UAE Dirham to Pakistani Rupee
AED to PKR interbank reference rate, last month
AED to PKR conversion table
PKR to AED conversion table
About the UAE Dirham in Pakistan
The UAE is Pakistan’s single largest remittance corridor and its closest major trading hub, so the dirham circulates in Pakistan more like a second working currency than a tourist one — traders, shuttle importers and families all hold it.
Like the riyal, the dirham is pegged to the dollar, at 3.6725. Its rupee rate therefore tracks USD/PKR almost exactly, and any independent movement is a local supply story rather than a currency story.
Before you exchange AED
Dirham spreads in Karachi are typically the tightest in the country because of the volume moving through the Dubai corridor. It is one of the few currencies where shopping between branches in the same city reliably pays.
Buy rate, sell rate and the spread
What one UAE Dirham has cost, since 1973
| Year | PKR per AED | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 2.78 | The dirham replaced the Qatar and Dubai riyal across the new federation. |
| 1982 | 3.50 | Pakistan left the dollar peg for a managed float. |
| 2000 | 14.13 | Formally pegged at 3.6725 to the dollar since 1997. |
| 2008 | 21.54 | A balance-of-payments crisis and an IMF programme. |
| 2019 | 42.21 | The rupee moved to a market-determined rate under the IMF programme. |
| 2023 | 83.59 | The rupee reached its weakest level against the dollar so far, in September. |
| Today | 75.50 | Open market buying rate, published . |
Where to exchange AED
- Best currency exchanges in Karachi 236 branches buying and selling AED
- Best currency exchanges in Lahore 208 branches buying and selling AED
- Best currency exchanges in Islamabad 97 branches buying and selling AED
- Best currency exchanges in Rawalpindi 69 branches buying and selling AED
- Best currency exchanges in Sialkot 52 branches buying and selling AED
- Best currency exchanges in Faisalabad 51 branches buying and selling AED
- Best currency exchanges in Peshawar 39 branches buying and selling AED
- Best currency exchanges in Gujranwala 35 branches buying and selling AED
Common questions
What is the AED to PKR rate today?
One UAE Dirham costs 76.16 Pakistani rupees to buy on the open market, and selling one gets you 75.50 rupees. This is the national open market rate, maintained by our editorial team and updated through the day — an individual counter may quote either side of it.
Why is the AED rate at the counter different from the interbank rate?
The interbank rate is a wholesale price for trades between banks in size. A counter has to cover the cost of holding physical notes, the risk that the rate moves while it holds them, and its own margin. That gap is normal; what varies is how wide it is, which is why comparing branches is worth doing.
Is the UAE Dirham value going down?
We do not have enough recorded open market readings for AED yet to answer that honestly. The chart above shows what has been recorded so far, and it fills as the board is updated. A rising figure means the rupee is weakening against the UAE Dirham, not the other way round.
What is the highest AED to PKR rate ever?
We have no recorded series for AED yet, so we cannot quote a high from our own data, and we will not repeat one we have not measured. For context, in 2023 — the rupee's weakest year so far — one UAE Dirham cost roughly 84 rupees.
Which rate do I get when I sell AED?
The buying rate — 75.50 rupees per UAE Dirham today. It is called the buying rate because it is the rate the exchange company buys at; you are the one selling. The other figure, 76.16, is what you would pay to buy AED from them.
Why is the selling rate higher than the buying rate?
Because the gap between them is what the exchange earns. A counter holds physical notes, carries the risk that the rate moves while it holds them, and pays for staff, security and the cash itself — the spread covers that. Today's gap on AED is 0.66 rupees per unit, which is 0.87% of the selling rate. A wide spread costs you twice if you buy and then sell back, so it is worth comparing.
Do د.إ100 notes get a better rate than small notes?
For dollars, yes — the 100-dollar note usually fetches a better rate than small notes. For the UAE Dirham, denominations are generally quoted at the same rate, so a counter should not pay you less for smaller notes. Condition still matters: torn, marked or heavily creased notes are discounted or refused in any currency.
How much AED can I buy in a day?
Up to about 18,384 AED a day for travel, and up to about 36,768 AED a day if you are depositing it into a foreign currency account. Those are the State Bank's limits for cash at an exchange company, written in dollars (5,000 and 10,000 USD) and converted here at today's board rate, so the figures move with the rate. Your original CNIC is required, biometric verification applies from 500 dollars upwards, and a travel purchase needs a passport, the visa where applicable and a confirmed ticket, with supporting documents from 1,000 dollars upwards.
Is the bank rate better than the open market rate?
It depends on the currency, and it is worth checking both. Today AED sells on the open market above the interbank reference by 1.06%. As a rule the dollar trades on the open market above interbank, because cash dollars are in demand; most other currencies trade close to, or a little below, their own interbank rate. A bank will also apply its own margin and may not hold the currency in cash at all, which is why travellers usually end up at an exchange company.
Where can I exchange AED in Pakistan?
At any exchange company licensed by the State Bank of Pakistan. We list 129 cities with verified branches, and every company shown is checked against the SBP register before it appears.
Do I need documents to buy AED?
Yes. Your original CNIC, NICOP or POC is always required, and biometric verification applies to Pakistani nationals from USD 500 upwards. A travel purchase also needs a passport, the visa where applicable, and a confirmed ticket, with supporting documents required from USD 1,000 upwards.