Morocco Dirhams: Currency Basics and Beyond

The Moroccan dirham is the official currency of Morocco, divided into 100 subunits called santimat.

You can exchange your money for Moroccan dirhams at a bank, currency exchange office, or an ATM.

One dirham is equivalent to 100 centimes, but centimes are no longer in circulation.

The Moroccan government introduced a new banknote series in 2010, featuring iconic Moroccan figures and landmarks.

Related reading: 100 Moroccan Dirham to Usd

The Moroccan Dirham is the official currency of Morocco, abbreviated as MAD internationally.

You'll often see MAD used on currency exchanges, but in guidebooks and online, it's commonly abbreviated as "dh".

The plural form of dirham in standard Arabic is dirahim, although in English and French, you'll commonly hear "dirhams".

One santim, worth 1/100 of a dirham, is abbreviated as "c" and is a rare find in coins smaller than 20c.

You will, however, come across 50c coins, and there are also coins for dirhams in 1dh, 2dh, 5dh, and 10dh denominations.

Paper notes come in denominations of 20dh, 50dh, 100dh, and 200dh.

The 100dh and 200dh paper notes are the most common, equivalent to 10s and 20s in other currencies.

Discover more: Euros into Dirhams

The Moroccan dirham has a rich history that spans thousands of years, originating from the Byzantine Empire, the eastern side of Roman civilization in Europe and Asia. The word "dirham" comes from the Latin word denarius, the Roman gold coin.

Morocco's economy is a significant regional power, with a GDP growth of 3.1% in 2018 and 2.5% in 2019, according to data from the World Bank. The country's economy was severely impacted by the COVID-19 virus, with a GDP growth of -7.1% in 2020.

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, holds significant control over monetary policy, as well as religious and foreign policies, through an elected parliament.

The Moroccan dirham has a rich history that dates back to the Byzantine Empire, which was the eastern side of Roman civilization in Europe and Asia. The word "dirham" actually comes from the Latin word denarius, the Roman gold coin.

The Moroccan dirham was reintroduced in 1960, after Morocco switched to the Moroccan Franc in 1921.

Take a look at this: Moroccan Dirham News

Morocco's economy has experienced fluctuations in recent years, with a GDP growth rate of 3.1% in 2018.

The country's economic performance was impacted by the COVID-19 virus in 2020, resulting in a GDP growth rate of -7.1%.

Morocco's King, Mohammed VI, holds significant power over monetary policy, as well as religious and foreign policies.

Despite attempts to depose the King, Morocco remains a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch ruling through an elected parliament.

The country's location in Northwest Africa makes it a prominent regional power, with a strong presence in the region.

Suggestion: Gold Rate in Dirhams

Morocco's currency is the dirham, which comes in various denominations of bank notes and coins. The current bank notes in circulation are 20 dirham, 50 dirham, 100 dirham, and 200 dirham.

The 20 dirham note is purple, the 50 dirham note is green, the 100 dirham note is brown, and the 200 dirham note is blue. These notes are an essential part of Morocco's economy.

Here's a breakdown of the current coins in circulation:

Morocco uses the Dirham as its official currency.

The Dirham notes come in various denominations.

You can find 20 dirham notes in purple, 50 dirham notes in green, and 100 dirham notes in brown.

The 200 dirham note is a distinctive blue color.

Here's a quick rundown of the available denominations:

Coins are an essential part of Morocco's currency, and there are several denominations currently in circulation.

The 1 santim coin was only minted until 1987 when new designs were introduced.

You can find coins in denominations of 10 santimat, 20 santimat, ½ dirham, 1 dirham, 5 dirhams, and 10 dirhams in circulation.

The 1 santim coin was made of aluminium, while the 5 up to 20 santimat coins were minted in brass, with the highest three denominations in cupro-nickel.

Here's a list of the coins' technical parameters:

New designs were introduced in 1987, with a 1⁄2 dirham replacing the 50 santimat without changing the size or composition.

The Moroccan dirham has a unique set of denominations and usage, which can be a bit confusing for visitors. The dirham is divided into 100 santimat.

In Morocco, you'll often hear people referring to the rial, which is equivalent to 5 santimat, or the franc, which is equivalent to 1 santim. These terms are not officially recognized by the state, but they're widely used in everyday conversation.

When dealing with goods worth less than a dirham, it's common to use the rial or santim. For high-priced items, such as cars, the price is often quoted in santimat.

Interestingly, the rial is used when speaking in Arabic, while centime is used when speaking in French. This highlights the country's rich cultural heritage and the influence of French colonial rule.

Here are some examples of how the different denominations are used:

In some cases, older generations may use the denomination 1,000, 2,000, or 100,000 francs to refer to 10, 20, or 1,000 dirhams, respectively. This is a nod to the country's history under French colonial rule.

The Moroccan dirham is also accepted in trade markets in Ceuta, although the euro is the sole legal tender there.

As of August 30, 2021, one U.S. dollar equals around 8.96 Moroccan dirhams. You can exchange your U.S. dollars to Moroccan dirham online, at an airport vendor, at a bank, and in most hotels.

To get the best exchange rate, it's essential to be aware of the current rates. Banks and traditional providers often have extra costs, which they pass to you by marking up the exchange rate.

The exchange rate for Moroccan dirham to various currencies is listed in the MAD exchange rates table. For instance, one Moroccan dirham is equivalent to 0.09990 USD, 62.83420 XOF, and 0.08036 GBP.

You can exchange Moroccan dirham for several other currencies, including the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Bulgarian lev, and many others. Here's a list of some of the countries where you can exchange Moroccan dirham:

Some other Moroccan dirham exchange rates include MAD to BHD, MAD to CZK, MAD to PLN, MAD to TZS, MAD to UGX, and MAD to VND.