Man held over fake $1m bills

A MAN from the Ivory Coast is in police custody in Abu Dhabi after allegedly persuading a woman to try to exchange two fake US $1 million notes at the UAE's Central Bank.

Police say the suspect promised the woman a 30 per cent cut after the notes were traded for lower denomination currency, presumably for dollar bills or UAE dirham.

The fake notes feature the $1 portrait of George Washington and are mostly black and white on the front.

Police said the suspect claimed he thought the bills were real.