UAE Cheque Writing FAQ

Write the full amount as "UAE Dirhams [amount in words] and Fils [fils in words] Only". For example, AED 1,250.75 becomes "UAE Dirhams One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty and Fils Seventy Five Only". The word "Only" at the end prevents anyone from adding extra digits.

UAE banks accept cheques written in either Arabic or English, and most banks accept both languages on the same cheque. Many businesses write the amount in both languages for clarity, especially when the payee is from a different linguistic background.

Fils is the subunit of the UAE Dirham. One Dirham equals 100 Fils. On cheques, the fils portion is written in words after the dirham amount, connected by "and", for example: "UAE Dirhams One Hundred and Fils Fifty Only".

UAE banks consider the amount written in words to be the legally binding amount. If there is a mismatch, the words take precedence over the figures. In practice, most UAE banks will reject a cheque with a mismatch rather than honour it, so always double-check before signing.

Writing "Only" at the end of the amount in words is not strictly required by law, but it is universally expected by UAE banks and recommended for security. It prevents anyone from adding extra words or digits to inflate the amount after you have signed.

Yes, post-dated cheques are legal and commonly used in the UAE for rent, instalment payments, and business agreements. The bank will not honour the cheque before the date written on it. Be aware that issuing a post-dated cheque you cannot honour is still a serious matter, even after the 2022 decriminalisation reforms.

UAE banks use the DD/MM/YYYY format. Write the date clearly in the date box, ensuring the day comes first, then the month, then the four-digit year. Avoid ambiguous formats like 02/03/26 — write 02/03/2026 in full.

Draw two parallel lines diagonally across the top-left corner of the cheque and write "A/C Payee Only" or "Account Payee Only" between them. This makes the cheque depositable only into the named payee's bank account and prevents it from being cashed over the counter.

Both are accepted, but writing "UAE Dirhams" in full is clearer and removes any ambiguity, especially on cheques sent to recipients abroad. The full form is the standard convention used by UAE banks and businesses.

When the fils portion is zero, simply omit it. Write "UAE Dirhams One Thousand Only" — there is no need to write "and Fils Zero". UAE banks accept this and it is the cleaner convention.

Never scratch out, overwrite, or use correction fluid on a cheque. UAE banks will reject any cheque with alterations, even if initialled. Tear up the mistaken cheque, mark it "CANCELLED", and write a fresh one. Keep the cancelled cheque for your records.

Bearer cheques (cheques made payable to "Cash" or "Bearer") are technically still legal in the UAE, but most banks now strongly discourage them and some banks have stopped accepting them entirely. Crossed account-payee cheques are the standard and far safer option for any meaningful amount.