Diri is a town in Saudi. So is Diriya, but known as Ad'Diriyah... the original capital until the Ottoman's destroyed it in early 1800's

so they would love both names but how about the other countries?

Diriyal may still be best then....

I think Diriyal sounds a bit like some hip talk from a teenagers text message..as in, da riyal.. (the riyal)...(but don't listen to me, I know nothing about currencies)...

it's the sound and meaning of the word that matters for now... thanks lil. and that's kind of a very british/jamaican Ali G 'street' interpretation of the sound, right?

if it is going to be diryal or diriyal then the three letter code can be GDL....

There's only two others that start with G:

Gold Ounces = XAU

Greek Drachmae = GRD

so that works too

There are 9 currencies starting with G. Please see (scroll down)
http://www.xe.com/iso4217.php

The drachmae has retired in favour of the Euro... If that means GDR is free for use - I have no idea but I'm sure ISO would sort that out.
For a list of symbols, please see (scroll down):
http://www.xe.com/symbols.php

According to Wikipedia the name will be: Khaleeji. (on a page modified Apr 08)

The Khaleeji (Arabic: خليجي) is a proposed unified currency of the member states of the GCC or Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

The term 'Khaleeji' is arabic for "of the gulf", and is traditionally associated with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

The currency, when adopted as planned in 2010, will be sole legal tender in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Oman has stated it will not be able to adopt the khaleeji at the onset. In addition, Yemen is slated to join the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) by 2016, although it will not adopt anytime soon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaleeji_%28currency%29

that's an interesting name... wonder where wiki got it from as I've not come across that proposal before....

yes drachma gone... if it becomes khaleeji then the three letter code could be GKL or something

khaleeji does mean 'of the gulf' apparently but in a very broad sense... if you google it. not sure how viable it is for a currency as it is also the name of a dance and a band of singers/musicians

not sure whether this bank would be pleased or angry about it too....

http://www.khcbonline.com/

After the Central Bank Governors' meeting of the six GCC states in Doha last Monday 10th June, there is another conference tomorrow in Dubai.

The entry in Wikipedia re suggested name for the new single currency has been modified, pls see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaleeji_%28currency%29
The conference in Dubai has attracted some attention (see press release and news items below) although as far as I understand nothing decisive was achieved regarding naming of the proposed single currency?
http://www.godubai.com/citylife/press_rele...id=16445&search
http://www.eyeofdubai.com/v1/news/newsdetail-23168.htm
http://www.spoletonline.com/index.php?sezi...om=&paginafrom=

I beleive the currency shall be made to Darham and Dinar as was at the time of prophet, as Islam is the most Important aspect of life here

I believe the currency shall be made to Darham and Dinar as was at the time of prophet, as Islam is the most Important aspect of life here

That is true but is there a connection between those names and the Prophet apart from the fact those names (might have) existed at his time?

Coins pre-date his arrival.

http://rg.ancients.info/lion/article.html

And neither of those names originate from his time.

http://www.collectionstudio.com/ru/help/article01.htm

We'll see what the GCC decides. Will be interesting though now seems there will be further delays.

I don't think Khaleeji is a good name, imagine your self going to like this store with an English staff and then you ask the guy(Indian,English,Phillpino whatever) you ask him how much is this he says for example "60 Khaleeji", i don't know but i don't think it sounds nice.

well, the Symbol (letter G with vertical bar overlaid it) is perfect and looks gorgeous! I loved it. on the other hand, in Saudi and Qatar its Riyal but I do not really like the new currency to be called (Riyal) because we want to be optimistic we really need a creative name something NEW something unique! and since al-iranyeen also name their currency Riyal we really want to look different. To me, all the names suggested by the INCIDE are really lame! ديريال sounds like فريال same goes with the other names! we should not adapt ديريال just because its consisted of درهم + دينار + ريال ok this might be good idea but still the name sounds exotic and superficial. I also heard that some GCC officials tend to accept the name(كرم)<<this would be the worst and most ridiciulous name ever! in modern world money should means save and used wisely not spend and waste! right? ppl on other parts of the world will think that we do not know to spend money if we name it KARAM. What shall we call the new currency then? well honestly i can not come up with any good name right now but the name MUST be able to be written with Latin letters no more ع or خ sounds and the name should sounds modern and smooth and flows from mouth when pronounced. should be something we all share, something that also happened to have a deep meaning in GCC cultures. What about MAAL?? مال is easy to remember is so relevant name.

well, the Symbol (letter G with vertical bar overlaid it) is perfect and looks gorgeous! I loved it. on the other hand, in Saudi and Qatar its Riyal but I do not really like the new currency to be called (Riyal) because we want to be optimistic we really need a creative name something NEW something unique! and since al-iranyeen also name their currency Riyal we really want to look different. To me, all the names suggested by the INCIDE are really lame! ديريال sounds like فريال same goes with the other names! we should not adapt ديريال just because its consisted of درهم + دينار + ريال ok this might be good idea but still the name sounds exotic and superficial. I also heard that some GCC officials tend to accept the name(كرم)<<this would be the worst and most ridiciulous name ever! in modern world money should means save and used wisely not spend and waste! right? ppl on other parts of the world will think that we do not know to spend money if we name it KARAM. What shall we call the new currency then? well honestly i can not come up with any good name right now but the name MUST be able to be written with Latin letters no more ع or خ sounds and the name should sounds modern and smooth and flows from mouth when pronounced. should be something we all share, something that also happened to have a deep meaning in GCC cultures. What about MAAL?? مال is easy to remember is so relevant name.

I would like to sugest the name DIN, it is simple,have less than 6 letters (so it makes easier to remember), and sounds like "G" for the westerns, also it remembers the Mythological Arab creature "Djiin" and it is a diminutive of the Historic Dinar name. Five Dins("Gins","Djins") sounds much better than Five Khaleeji, and all the other four ones !! Another variations would be JIN(A god one), GIN and DJIN.

Hi, great stuff! You have certainly added excellent names to our very preliminary list. Delighted you like the symbol. What drove you to the gulf currency site over the last two days? Do please spread the word - the more people enter the debate, the better.

What does MAAL mean exactly?

I think that Gulf Dinar would be just fine.
Dinar already comes from the latin 'dinarium'.
The 'G' would still be in the coins wich makes sense.
GD - Gulf Dinar. The simpler the better.

Dinar Would Be Nice Because It Was The Oldest Currency In The Arabian Peninsula And Dirham Could Be Used As The Secondary Like 1.5GD 1 Dinar and 500 Dirhams

I Dont Thik Deriyal Is A Nice Name Coz Its Just Riyal And a DE added to it.

Or Why dont we just call it Khalijee Its Better Just Like Euro and Asean

Gulf Dinar works... Khalijee was debated earlier in this thread I think.

ARABA sounds good or Arabian, the new currency name of the GCC and at a later stage some more middle east countries my wish to join....then the ARABA or the ARABIAN sounds good.

I like ARABA a LOT. So simple and to the point. One Araba, two Arabas.... better than Arabian as ARABA sounds more arabic too.

Great stuff Sami!

Asalamu Alekum Wa Rahmato Allahi Wa Barakatuhu.
Ashhadu En La Elaha Ela Allah, Wa Ashhadu Enah Mohammadan Abdaho Wa Rasoloho.
Bi Ismi Allahi Al Rahman Al Raheem.

Please brothers and sisters of the Gulf Nations. The name and design of your future currency is very important. It must be NOT just relevant to any of the gulf's states, but it MUST also be at the most relevant to Islam.
Money has been very important in the daily life societies in the Gulf states in the recent years when oil was sound in each state. Currency's design must not be misleading any of the Muslims to a wrong picture, design. It must be relevant to Islam, in names and in design.
Choose a name wisely and let not the options given be your only option to choose.

Jazakum Allah Khair.