Several Indians in the Gulf region are complaining that the banks are refusing to accept their Rs 2,000 notes and are claiming not to be aware of the policy change.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 19 May announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes from circulation. Customers could deposit these notes in accounts or exchange them at banks from 23 May till 30 September. 

The RBI said it had asked banks to stop issuing Rs 2,000 notes with immediate effect.

In the UAE, Indians are facing a tough time getting Rs 2,000 notes exchanged, news agency PTI reported.

Among many is Firoza Sheikh (name changed on request) who landed in Dubai last week with her two children to join her husband for a month-long break, PTI reported.

Days later, as she heard the announcement of the Rs 2,000 currency withdrawal, she rushed to an exchange centre to get the local currency equivalent of the eight notes of the Rs 2,000 denomination.

To her surprise, the exchange counter refused to entertain her request.

"We have instructions from the management not to exchange Rs 2,000 notes," she was bluntly told.

She tried to reason out, citing the Indian government announcement, but to no avail, according to the PTI report.

Several netizens have started sharing reports of the Rs 2,000 notes being refused by exchange centres across the Gulf region.

"INR 2,000 notes not being accepted in Saudi Arabia exchange offices," a message shared via social media said.

"I request all hajis (Haj pilgrims) to bring Rs 500 notes from India. It's important and please share this information with those embarking on the pilgrimage this year," the post said.

Non-Residential Indian (NRI) businessman Chandrashekhar Bhatia of the Global Federation said a lot of people he knows are stuck with Rs 2,000 currency notes.

"We are in the middle of a holiday season and the last thing someone visiting the region needs is the bulk of their cash becoming of no use, PTI quoted Bhatia as saying.

Another businessman, who chose to remain anonymous, told PTI that it's not much the decision but its implementation that leaves much to be desired.

"If banks and financial institutions were informed in advance so that they could exchange these notes, things wouldn't be that bad. If you are told the currency in your pocket has no value, one begins to look like a fool who has nowhere to go," he said.