Omani rial

 ( Fixed Exchange Rate ) 

The Omani rial (, ISO 4217 code OMR) is the currency of Oman. It is divided into 1000 paisa (also written baiza, بيسة).

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Fixed exchange rate 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.

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History Until 1940, the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa thaler (known locally as the rial due to its similar size to the Spanish dollar) 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 1970 Central Bank of Oman - Currency Museum Omani 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.com Currency 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.

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Coins In the 1890s, coins for and Indian 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.

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1975 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		Cupronickel		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		Aluminium bronze	Reeded

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2020 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

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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.

		100 baiza	Brown
		rial	Blue
		rial	Green
		1 rial	Red
		5 rials	Purple
		10 rials	Brown-black

		100 baiza	Orange
		200 baiza	Purple
		rial	Blue
		rial	Green
		1 rial	Red
		5 rials	Maroon
		10 rials	Brown-black
		20 rials	Dark green

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Fourth issue

[7]	100 baisa		Red	Qaboos bin Said	Port Sultan Qaboos	1987, 1989, 1992, 1994
[8]	200 baisa		Purple		Rustaq Fort	1987, 1993, 1994
[9]	RO		Purple-Blue		Fishing trawler	1989
[10]	RO		Green		Sultan Qaboos University	1987
[11]	RO 1		Red		Sohar Fort	1987, 1989, 1994
[12]	RO 5		Maroon		Nizwa Fort	1990
[13]	RO 10		Dark brown		Al-Mirani Fort	1987, 1993
[14]	RO 20		Green-Gray		Central Bank of Oman	1987, 1994
[15]	RO 50		Dark green		Jabreen Fort	1985, 1992

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Fifth issue

[16]	100 baisa	122 x 64		Green	Qaboos bin Said, irrigation canal	Verreaux eagle, white oryx	1995	31 December 2024
[17]	200 baisa	129 x 64		Blue	Qaboos bin Said, Salalah Airport and Muscat International Airport	Marine Science & Fisheries Center, Port Sultan Qaboos
[18]	RO	136 x 64		Puce	Qaboos bin Said, Bahla Fort	Al-Hazim fort, Nakhal Fort
[19]	RO 1	146 x 76		Purple	Qaboos bin Said, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex	Khanjar, bracelets, ornaments, dhows
[20][21]	RO 5	153 x 76		Red	Qaboos bin Said, Sultan Qaboos University	Nizwa	1995, 2000
[22][23]	RO 10	160 x 76		Brown	Qaboos bin Said, Burj al-Nahdah	Muttrah fort
[24][25]	RO 20	167 x 76		Blue-green	Qaboos bin Said, Central bank	Muscat Securities Market, Rusayl industrial area
[26][27]	RO 50	174 x 76		Burgundy	Qaboos bin Said, Al-Mirani Fort, Finance ministry	Commerce ministry
[28]	RO 1	146 x 76		Red	Qaboos bin Said	RNOV Shabab Oman, Al Jalali Fort, minaret	2005	31 December 2024
[29]	RO 5	153 x 76		Red	Qaboos bin Said, Sultan Qaboos University	Nizwa	2010	31 December 2024
[30]	RO 10	160 x 76		Brown	Qaboos bin Said, Burj al-Nahdah	Muttrah fort
[31]	RO 20	167 x 76		Blue	Qaboos bin Said, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque	Royal Opera House Muscat
[32]	RO 50	174 x 76		Burgundy	Qaboos bin Said, Al-Mirani Fort, Finance ministry	Commerce ministry
[33]	RO 1	140 x 71		Purple	Qaboos bin Said, Al Alam Palace	Sultan Qaboos University	2015	31 December 2024

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Sixth issue

[34]	100 baisa	122 x 64		Brown	National emblem; Jebel Akhdar terraces	Falaj Al-Jeela; Coconut trees and palm groves	2021
[35]	RO	136 x 64		Green	National emblem; Ain Khor and frankincense	Arabian leopard and sooty falcon
[36]	RO 1	146 x 76		Red	National emblem; Oman Across Ages Museum	Khasab, Wadi Al-Ayn tombs, Jirz axe, Khanjar
[37]	RO 5	153 x 76		Pink	Haitham bin Tariq; Sultan Qaboos University	Royal Opera House Muscat
[38]	RO 10	160 x 76		Beige	Haitham bin Tariq; Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque	Al-Baleed Great Mosque; Niche of al-Uweyna Mosque
[39]	RO 20	167 x 76		Blue	Haitham bin Tariq; Muscat International Airport	Batinah Expressway; Salalah International Airport; Sohar Industrial Port
[40]	RO 50	174 x 76		Green	Qaboos bin Said; Central bank building	Council of Oman; Ministry of Finance; Supreme Court	2020

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See also

• Oman
• Economy of Oman
• Gulf Cooperation Council
• Iranian rial
• Saudi riyal
• Qatari riyal
• Yemeni rial

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External links

• Information on Omani currency (archived 25 January 2005)
• Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The banknotes of Oman

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