Did you know UAE dirhams have Sheikh Hamdan's signature?

Dubai - The country's currency notes have borne the signature of the late leader for the past 48 years.

The passing of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, on Wednesday has resulted in an outpouring of grief over his loss — but his rich legacy still lives on.

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For the past 48 years, UAE currency notes have borne the signature of the late leader, who was the first Finance Minister of the UAE as well as the first chairman of the Central Bank.

A symbol of national unity, the dirham was issued as the country's official currency for the first time in May 1973, while the paper currency notes were issued later in 1976.

Prior to the formation of the country, the seven emirates used different currencies — such as the Indian rupee and Bahraini dinar, among others.

In 1980, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE, issued a decree establishing a central bank to issue currency, replacing the currency board. Sheikh Hamdan was named the first Chairman of the Central Bank.