kids encyclopedia robot

Omani rial facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Omani rial
Banknote of 10 Omani Rial
Banknote of 10 Omani Rial
ISO 4217 Code OMR
User(s)  Oman
Inflation 4.1%
Source The World Factbook, 2011 est.
Pegged with US dollar (USD)
1 OMR = 2.6008 USD (exact)
1 USD = 0.384497 OMR (approx.)
Subunit
11000 baisa
Symbol ر.ع. R.O or ﷼
Coins
Freq. used 5, 10, 25, 50 baisa
Banknotes
Freq. used 100 baisa, 12, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 rials

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

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, which translates to approximately US$1 = 0.384497 rial. As of 2023, the Central Bank of Oman bought U.S. dollars at 0.384 Omani rial, and sold U.S. dollars at 0.385 Omani rial. It is as of 2024 the third-highest-valued currency unit in the world after the Kuwaiti dinar and the Bahraini dinar.

Current OMR exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR CNY KRW
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR CNY KRW
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR CNY KRW
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR CNY KRW
From fxtop.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR CNY KRW

Note: Rates obtained from these websites may contradict with pegged rate mentioned above.

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 1970 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. 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.

Coins

In the 1890s, coins for 112 and 14 anna (13 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. 12 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, 12 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. 14 and 12 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.

Qaboos coins
Image Value Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse Year of
Obverse Reverse first minting
5 baisa 19 mm 2.65 g Copper-clad steel Smooth Qaboos bin Sa'id, Sultan of Oman Year of minting 1999
10 baisa 22.5 mm 4.1 g Copper-clad steel Smooth Qaboos bin Sa'id, Sultan of Oman Year of minting 1999
25 baisa 22.5 mm 2.63 g Nickel-plated steel Reeded Qaboos bin Sa'id, Sultan of Oman Year of minting 1999
50 baisa 24 mm 5.57 g Nickel-plated steel Reeded Qaboos bin Sa'id, Sultan of Oman Year of minting 1999
100 baisa 21.5 mm 4.20 g Copper-nickel Reeded Sultanate of Oman Year of minting 1984
14 riyal 26 mm 6.5 g Aluminium bronze Lettered Sultanate of Oman Year of minting 1979
12 riyal 30 mm 10 g Aluminium bronze Reeded Sultanate of Oman Year of minting 1979
200 Omani Baisa (Obverse)
100 Baisa Oman

Banknotes

On 7 May 1970, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman issued banknotes in denominations of 100 baisa, 14, 12, 1, 5 and 10 rial saidi. These were followed by notes for 100 baisa, 14, 12, 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 12 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.

Omani Banknote History
This image shows Omani banknotes from different years.

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

1973 Series
Image Value Main colour Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
100 baiza Brown
14 rial Blue
12 rial Green
1 rial Red
5 rials Purple
10 rials Brown-black
1977 Series
Image Value Main colour Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
100 baiza Orange
200 baiza Purple
14 rial Blue
12 rial Green
1 rial Red
5 rials Maroon
10 rials Brown-black
20 rials Dark green
1985 Series
Image Value Main colour Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
100 baiza Red-brown
200 baiza Purple
14 rial Blue
12 rial Green
1 rial Red
5 rials Maroon
10 rials Dark brown
20 rials Brown-black
50 rials Dark green
1995 Series
Image Value Main colour Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
100 Baisa Oman.png 100 baisa reverse.jpg 100 baisa Green Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, irrigation canal Verreaux eagle, white oryx
200 Omani Baisa (Obverse).jpg 200 Omani Baisa (Reverse).jpg 200 baisa Blue Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the old terminals of Salalah Airport and Muscat International Airport Marine Science & Fisheries Center, Port Qaboos, Muttrah
Oman Half rial obverse.jpg Oman Half rial reverse.jpg 12 rial Brownish-purple Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Bahla fortress Al-Hazim fort, Nakhal Fort
1 oman rial obverse.jpg 1 Oman rial reverse.jpg 1 rial Purple Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Omani Khanjar (dagger), silver bracelets and ornaments, dhows
5 rials Orange-red
10 rials Brown
20 rials Green
50 rials Pink and violet
2005 series / 35th National Day
1 rial Pink-purple
2010 Series / 40th National Day
5 Omani Rial (Obverse).jpg 5 Omani Rial (Reverse).jpg 5 rials Red Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan Qaboos University Nizwa
10 Omani Rial (Obverse).jpg 10 Omani Rial (Reverse).jpg 10 rials Brown Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Al-Nahda tower Muttrah Fort
20 rials Blue Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (Muscat) Royal Opera House Muscat
50 rials Pink and violet Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Ministry of Finance and Economy Building (Muscat) Cabinet building and Ministry of Finance and Industry building (Muscat)
2015 Series / 45th National Day
Image Value Main colour Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
1 rial Purple
2020 Series
Image Value Main colour Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
100 baisa Brown Terraces of Jebel Akhdar, national emblem Coconut trees (Dhofar), Falaj Al-Jeela (Ash Sharqiyah South)
12 rial Green Ain Khor (Dhofar), Frankincense (Dhofar), national emblem Arabian leopard (Dhofar), sooty falcon (Muscat & Al Batinah South)
1 rial Red Oman Across Ages Museum (Ad Dakhiliyah), national emblem Khasab Castle (Musandam), Wadi Al-Ayn Tombs (Ad Dhahirah), Jirz axe (Musandam), Omani khanjar
5 rials Pink-red
10 rials Brown
20 rials Blue
50 rials Green-grey

See also

kids search engine
Omani rial Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.