Dirham / Darham to PKR Live Rates
Our live Dubai currency rate in Pakistan is updated frequently to reflect the latest market changes, so you can rely on these rates whether you’re trading, traveling, or just curious about Dubai’s currency.
Darham Rate in Pakistan
History and Origins of the Darham
The currency’s history dates back to May 19, 1973, when it replaced the Qatar riyal. Before that, the Qatar riyal had been in circulation across all Emirates except Abu Dhabi since 1966. During the transition from the rupee to the Qatar riyal, both Qatar and Dubai used the riyal.
When the darham was introduced, the following coin denominations were minted: 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 fils, along with the 1 darham coin. The 1, 5, and 10 fils coins were made of bronze, while the remaining coins were minted in cupronickel. The size and composition of the fils coins matched those of the corresponding Qatar riyal coins.
In 1995, the sizes of the 1, 5, and 10 fils coins, as well as the 1 darham coin, were reduced. The new 1 darham coin had the same diameter as the old 50 fils coin, while the 50 fils coin itself was resized and given a heptagonal shape.
The first series of banknotes was released in 1973, followed by the second series in 1982, which discontinued the 1 and 1,000 darham denominations. The 500 darham note was introduced in 1983, followed by the 200 darham note in 1989. In 2000, the 1,000 darham note was reintroduced.
On January 28, 1978, the darham was pegged to the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR). However, in practice, it remains tied to the US dollar.
Interesting Facts
- The term darham comes from the Greek word drachmae, which literally means “handful.” Due to centuries of trade and currency usage, the darham persisted through the Ottoman Empire.
- By August 2006, it became widely known that the Philippine 1 peso coin was the same size as the 1 darham coin, leading to vending machine fraud in the UAE. The same issue arose with the Pakistani 5 rupee coin, the Omani 50 baisa coin, and the Moroccan 1 darham coin, all of which share similar dimensions with the 1 darham coin.
- Since 1976, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has issued numerous commemorative coins to honor various events and UAE rulers.
What is the PKR (Pakistani Rupee)?
The Pakistani rupee (abbreviated as PKR) is the official currency of Pakistan. It is divided into 100 paise and is commonly represented by the symbols “Rp” or “Rs” locally. The PKR is often referred to as rupees, rupaya, or rupaye. The term rupee comes from the Sanskrit word rup or rupa, meaning “silver” in several Indo-Aryan languages.
Origin of the Pakistani Rupee
The Pakistani rupee replaced the Indian rupee in 1947, following the country’s independence from Britain. It remained pegged to the British pound until 1982, when Pakistan transitioned to a managed float system. As part of the conditions for receiving bailout loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan was required to adopt a market-based exchange rate.
