How to Write a Cheque in the UAE — AED Guide

Complete guide to writing cheques in the UAE. Learn AED/dirham amount formatting, strict legal consequences for bounced cheques, post-dated rent cheque conventions, Central Bank rules, and how to avoid bank rejections.

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What is the cheque format in the UAE?

Writing a cheque in the UAE requires the payee name, date in DD/MM/YYYY format, numeric amount in AED, and the cheque amount in words on the legal line in dirhams. The UAE Central Bank sets strict regulations for cheque issuance and clearing. The legal line must spell out the amount with fils as a fraction: AED 25,000.50 is written as Twenty-five thousand and 50/100 dirhams. Post-dated cheques are widely used in the UAE, particularly for rent payments where landlords commonly require 12 post-dated cheques for annual leases. Bouncing a cheque is a criminal offence under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2020, carrying penalties including fines of at least 10% of the cheque value and potential imprisonment. UAE banks honour the written amount over the numeric amount if there is a discrepancy, making correct spelling essential.

UAE Central Bank regulations and Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2020

How to write a cheque in the UAE

  1. 1

    Date and payee

    Write the date in DD/MM/YYYY format. Use the payee's full legal name as per their Emirates ID or trade licence. UAE banks are strict about name matching.

  2. 2

    Numeric amount

    Enter the figure in the amount box in AED. Use commas for thousands and a decimal point for fils.

  3. 3

    Amount in words

    Write the amount in words on the legal line, e.g. Twenty-five thousand and 50/100 dirhams. Draw a line to fill remaining space and prevent alterations.

  4. 4

    Sign the cheque

    Sign exactly as per the signature specimen your bank holds. UAE banks verify signatures against their records. A mismatch can cause the cheque to be returned.

Common UAE cheque mistakes

Omitting the currency name dirhams after the amount in words
End with dirhams: Twenty-five thousand and 50/100 dirhams.
Issuing a cheque without sufficient funds
Ensure sufficient funds before issuing. Under UAE law, a bounced cheque can result in criminal prosecution, fines, and a travel ban.

Why use this UAE cheque guide

UAE format

Amounts in words with correct dirham formatting per UAE Central Bank standards.

Avoid legal risk

Spelling and formatting errors are caught before you issue the cheque — critical given strict legal consequences for bounced cheques.

Free tool

No sign-up needed for unlimited cheque amount conversions.

UAE-specific rules

Covers post-dated rent cheques, Central Bank rules, and Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2020.

UAE Cheque Guide — FAQ