Omani rial

The Omani rial (, symbol: ; currency code: OMR) is the currency of Oman. It is divided into 1000 baisa (also written baiza, ).

History

Until 1940, the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa thaler (known locally as the rial due to its similar size to the Spanish eight-real coin) were the main currencies circulating in Muscat and Oman, as the state was then known, with Indian rupees circulating on the coast and thaler in the interior. Maria Theresa thaler were valued at 230 paisa, with 64 paisa = 1 rupee.

In 1940, coins were introduced for use in Dhofar, followed, in 1946, by coins for use in Oman. Both coinages were denominated in baisa (equivalent to the paisa), with 200 baisa = 1 rial. The Indian rupee and, from 1959, the Gulf rupee continued to circulate. On 6 June 1966, India devalued the Gulf rupee against the Indian rupee. Following the devaluation, several of the states still using the Gulf rupee adopted their own currencies. Oman continued to use the Gulf rupee until 1970, with the government backing the currency at its old peg to the pound, when it adopted the Saidi rial.

On 7 May 1970Central Bank of Oman - Currency MuseumOmani rial at Exchange Currency the Saidi rial (named after the House of Al Said, not to be confused with Saudi riyal) was introduced as the currency of Oman to replace the Gulf rupee. It was equal to the British pound sterling and 1 Saidi rial = 21 Gulf rupees. The Saidi rial was subdivided into 1000 baisa. The Omani rial replaced the Saidi rial at par on 11 November 1972.Oman at Encyclopedia.comCurrency of Oman: Omani rial at Mataf At that time, the currency became pegged to the US dollar at 1 Omani rial = US$2.895, instead of the pound sterling, a rate that would continue until 1986, when it was devalued by about 9% to 1 Omani rial = US$2.6008. The currency name was altered due to the regime change in 1970 and the subsequent change of the country's name. Since 1975, new coins have been issued with the country's name given as Oman.

Currency symbol

In November 2025, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) launched an official currency symbol for the Omani rial, with the aim of standardising how the currency is displayed on financial, commercial and digital platforms and strengthening its visual identity locally and internationally.

The symbol is scheduled to be available in Unicode version 18.0 as U+20C4 , expected for September 2026.

Coins In the 1890s, coins for and anna ( and 1 paisa) were minted specifically for use in Muscat and Oman.

In 1940, coins were issued for use in Dhofar in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 baisa. rial coins were added in 1948, followed by 3 baisa in 1959. In 1946, 2, 5 and 20 baisa coins were introduced for use in Oman. These were followed, between 1959 and 1960, by 3 baisa, and 1 rial coins.

In 1970, a coinage for all of Muscat and Oman was introduced. Denominations were 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 baisa. In 1975, new coins were issued with the country's name given as Oman. and rial coins were introduced in 1980.

Coins currently circulating are 5, 10, 25 and 50 baisa. On 20 May 2020, coins with denominations of 100 baisa and more lost their monetary value.

1975 issue Sultan Qaboos issue (1975) Image Value Diameter(mm) Mass(g) Composition Edge Obverse Reverse Issue 5 baisa 19 3.11 Bronze Smooth National emblem; Lettering: Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman Denomination in Arabic;Year of issue in Hijri and Gregorian 1975 2.65 Copper-clad steel 1999 10 baisa 22.5 4.76 Bronze 1975 4.1 Copper-clad steel 1999 25 baisa 18 3 Copper-nickel Reeded 1975 2.63 Nickel-plated steel 2008 50 baisa 24 6.4 Copper-nickel 1975 5.57 Nickel-plated steel 2008 100 baisa 21.5 4.20 Copper-nickel National emblem; Lettering: Sultanate of Oman;Year of issue in Hijri and Gregorian Lettering: Central Bank of Oman and value 1984 riyal 26 6.5 Aluminium bronze Lettered 1979 riyal 30 10 Reeded

2020 issue Sultan Haitham issue (2020) Image Value Diameter(mm) Mass(g) Composition Edge Obverse Reverse Issue 5 baisa 19 2.64 Copper-clad steel Smooth National emblem; Lettering: Haitham bin Tariq, Sultan of Oman Denomination in English and Arabic;Year of issue in Hijri and Gregorian 2020 10 baisa 22.5 4.08 25 baisa 18 2.65 Stainless steel Reeded 50 baisa 24 5.55

Banknotes On 7 May 1970, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman issued banknotes in denominations of 100 baisa, , , 1, 5 and 10 rial saidi. These were followed by notes for 100 baisa, , , 1, 5 and 10 Omani rials issued by the Oman Currency Board on 18 November 1972.

From 1977, the Central Bank of Oman has issued notes, with 20 and 50 rial notes introduced that, followed by 200 baisa notes in 1985.

A new series of notes was issued on 1 November 1995, and the 5-rial notes and higher were updated in 2000 with foil strips.

In 2005, a red 1-rial note commemorating the 35th National Day was issued.

In 2010, new 5-, 10-, 20- and 50-rial notes were issued on the occasion of the 40th National Day. The 20-rial note is blue instead of green while the other notes are the same colour as previously.

In 2015, a purple 1-rial note commemorating the 45th National Day was issued.

After 30 July 2019, all banknotes issued before 1 November 1995 became invalid, as well as the 5 to 50 rial banknotes issued on that date without foil strips. The 5- to 50-rial banknotes of the 1995 series with foil strips, released into circulation from 2000, remained valid. Thus, as of 2020, banknotes in circulation are mainly the 2010 series of 5 to 50 rial, the 2015 1-rial note, and the 1995 series of 100 baisa and rial. The 1995 200-baisa note, the 1995 and 2005 1-rial notes, and the 2000 release of 5- to 50-rial notes are still accepted but not commonly seen. Coins in circulation are mainly 25 and 50 baisa, with 5 and 10 baisa used in shops whose pricing requires them.

In 2020, a new series of banknotes from 100 baisa to 50 rials was released, with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on the obverse. Since 1 January 2025, all previous banknotes are invalid and can no longer be exchanged, even at banks.

1973 SeriesImageValueMain colourDescriptionObverseReverseObverseReverse100 baizaBrown rialBlue rialGreen1 rialRed5 rialsPurple10 rialsBrown-black 1977 SeriesImageValueMain colourDescriptionObverseReverseObverseReverse100 baizaOrange200 baizaPurple rialBlue rialGreen1 rialRed5 rialsMaroon10 rialsBrown-black20 rialsDark green

Fourth issue Fourth issue (1987-1990) Image Value Main colour Description Date of issue Obverse Reverse 100 baisaRed Qaboos bin Said Port Sultan Qaboos 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994 200 baisaPurple Rustaq Fort 1987, 1993, 1994RO Purple-BlueFishing trawler1989 RO Green Sultan Qaboos University 1987 RO 1RedSohar Fort1987, 1989, 1994 RO 5MaroonNizwa Fort1990 RO 10Dark brownAl-Mirani Fort1987, 1993 RO 20Green-GrayCentral Bank of Oman1987, 1994 RO 50Dark greenJabreen Fort1985, 1992

Fifth issue Fifth issue (1995) Image Value Dimensions(mm) Main colour Description Date of Obverse Reverse issue withdrawal 100 baisa 122 x 64 Green Qaboos bin Said,irrigation canal Verreaux eagle, white oryx 1995 31 December 2024 200 baisa 129 x 64 Blue Qaboos bin Said,Salalah Airport andMuscat International Airport Marine Science & Fisheries Center,Port Sultan Qaboos RO 136 x 64 Puce Qaboos bin Said,Bahla Fort Al-Hazim fort, Nakhal Fort RO 1 146 x 76 Purple Qaboos bin Said,Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Omani khanjar,bracelets, ornaments, dhows RO 5 153 x 76 Red Qaboos bin Said,Sultan Qaboos University Nizwa 1995, 2000 RO 10 160 x 76 Brown Qaboos bin Said,Burj al-Nahdah Muttrah fort RO 20 167 x 76 Blue-green Qaboos bin Said,Central bank Muscat Securities Market,Rusayl industrial area RO 50 174 x 76 Burgundy Qaboos bin Said,Al-Mirani Fort, Finance ministry Commerce ministry 35th National Day issue (2005) RO 1 146 x 76 Red Qaboos bin Said RNOV Shabab Oman,Al Jalali Fort, minaret 2005 31 December 2024 40th National Day issue (2010) RO 5 153 x 76 Red Qaboos bin Said,Sultan Qaboos University Nizwa 2010 31 December 2024 RO 10 160 x 76 Brown Qaboos bin Said,Burj al-Nahdah Muttrah fort RO 20 167 x 76 Blue Qaboos bin Said,Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Royal Opera House Muscat RO 50 174 x 76 Burgundy Qaboos bin Said,Al-Mirani Fort, Finance ministry Commerce ministry 45th National Day issue (2015) RO 1 140 x 71 Purple Qaboos bin Said,Al Alam Palace Sultan Qaboos University 2015 31 December 2024

Sixth issue Sixth issue (2020) Image Value Dimensions(mm) Main colour Description Date of issue Obverse Reverse 100 baisa 122 x 64 Brown National emblem;Jebel Akhdar terraces Falaj Al-Jeela;Coconut trees and palm groves 2021 RO 136 x 64 Green National emblem;Ain Khor and frankincense Arabian leopard and sooty falcon RO 1 146 x 76 Red National emblem;Oman Across Ages Museum Khasab Castle, Wadi Al-Ayn tombs,Jirz axe, Omani khanjar RO 5 153 x 76 Pink Haitham bin Tariq;Sultan Qaboos University Royal Opera House Muscat RO 10 160 x 76 Beige Haitham bin Tariq;Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Al-Baleed Great Mosque;Niche of al-Uweyna Mosque RO 20 167 x 76 Blue Haitham bin Tariq;Muscat International Airport Batinah Expressway;Salalah International Airport;Sohar Industrial Port RO 50 174 x 76 Green Qaboos bin Said;Central bank building Council of Oman;Ministry of Finance;Supreme Court 2020

2025 Commemorative Polymer Banknote issue First Polymer Banknote issue (2025) Image Value Dimensions (mm) Composition Obverse Reverse Issue RO 1 145x76 mm Polymer Haitham bin Tariq: Oman Batonic Garden Sayyed Tariq bin Taimur Cultural Complex; Duqm Port 2025

Exchange rates From 1973 to 1986, the rial was pegged to the U.S. dollar at 1 Omani rial = US$2.895. The rate was changed in 1986 to 1 Omani rial = US$2.6008,Chapter V, CBO Annual Report 2014 which translates to approximately US$1 = 0.384497 rial. It is as of 2024 the third-highest-valued currency unit in the world after the Kuwaiti dinar and the Bahraini dinar. As of 2025 still, the Central Bank of Oman bought U.S. dollars at 0.384 Omani rial, and sold U.S. dollars at 0.385 Omani rial.

Omani rial

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