OMR – Omani Rial

Monetary System

11.11.1972: rial Saidi changed name to rial Omani
1 Omani rial (OMR) = 1,000 baisa (also written baiza)

Oman Currency Board

On 23 July 1970, Qaboos bin Said, son of the sultan of Muscat and Oman, staged a coup d’état in the Salalah palace and subsequently renamed the country the Sultanate of Oman. This led to the creation of the Oman Currency Board (OCB) as the new note-issuer in the country.

2020 Commemorative Issues

According to a press release dated 8 July 2020, the Central Bank of Oman introduced a new 50-rial note to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the rise of the Modern Omani Renaissance and in the memory of its founder, the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taymur. The first note in the bank’s sixth series began circulating as legal tender in July, followed by all other denominations on 11 January 2021.

Description: Half Note (1/2 or 0.50) OMR – Omani Rial Size: 135 x 64 mm

Green, red, orange, and purple. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); frankincense (kender) tree in Dhofar; Ain Kour lake; crossed swords and khanjar as registration device; crossed swords and khanjar. Back: English text; perched Sooty falcon; striding Arabian leopard; crossed swords and khanjar; Sooty falcon in flight. Combifluo solid security thread with printed HALF RIAL. Watermark: Coat of arms and electrotype ١/٢. Printer: (Unknown). 135 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 1.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 140 x 71 mm

Reddish brown, green, and yellow. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); Oman Across Ages Museum; crossed swords and khanjar as registration device; crossed swords and khanjar. Back: English text; flag flying over Khasab Castle; Omani khanjar (dagger) and jirz (axe); Wadi Al-Ayn tombs; crossed swords and khanjar. Pulsar windowed security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms and electrotype ١. Printer: (Unknown). 140 x 71 mm. Paper.

Description: 5.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 153 x 76 mm

Violet, purple, green, yellow, and orange. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); denomination in magenta-to-green SPARK; clock tower and Sultan Qaboos University; crossed swords and khanjar as registration device; Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. Back: English text; Royal Opera House in Muscat. varifeye thread and gold-to-purple RollingStar windowed security thread with demetalized khanjar. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype ٥. Printer: (Unknown). 153 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 160 x 76 mm

Brown, blue, green, red, and yellow. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); denomination in purple-to-green SPARK; Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Bausher; crossed swords and khanjar as registration device; Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. Back: English text; Great Mosque in Al Baleed; niche (mihrab) of al-Uweyna Mosque. varifeye thread and gold-to-green RollingStar windowed security thread. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype ١٠. Printer: (Unknown). 160 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 20.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 167 x 76 mm

Blue, green, purple, red, black, and tan. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); denomination in gold-to-green SPARK; Muscat International Airport (MCT); crossed swords and khanjar as registration device; Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. Back: English text; Al Batinah Expressway; gantry cranes at Sohar Industrial Port; Salalah International Airport (SLL). varifeye thread and gold-to-green RollingStar windowed security thread. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype ٢٠. Printer: (Unknown). 167 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 174 x 76 mm

Green. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); denomination in gold-to-green SPARK; Central Bank of Oman building; crossed swords and khanjar as registration device; Sultan Qaboos bin Said; Mirani Fort. Back: English text; façades of the Council of Oman, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Finance; crossed swords and khanjar. varifeye thread. Gold-to-green RollingStar windowed security thread. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype ٥٠. Printer: (Unknown). 174 x 76 mm. Paper.

Extras

According to an AFP article dated 10 January 2020, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the longest-reigning leader of the modern Arab world, died at the age of 79. The sultan’s image and signature appears on all notes since 1976, so new notes will likely appear after a successor is named.

Museum

The Central Bank of Oman operates a Currency Museum in its headquarters building.

Outmoded Notes

2015 Commemorative Issues

This 1-rial note commemorates the 45th National Day (18 November), the day Sultan Qaboos bin Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father in 1970. It is also the sultan’s birthday.

The bank initially withdrew the 1-rial note because of an error in the Hijri year on the front below the signature. It should be ١٤٣٧ (1437) but appears as ١٤٢٧ (1427) on the first printing (left). Subsequent printings bear the correct date on the front. All issues have the correct date on the back as 1437/2015 G (right).

Description: 1.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 140 x 71 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; Sultan Qaboos bin Said; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); Al Alam Palace in Muscat, khanjar as registration device. Back: English text; flowers; khanjar; Desert white butterflies (Pontia glauconome); 45th National Day logo; Sultan Qaboos University in Al Khoudh in the Muscat Governorate. Two-tone windowed security thread. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Unknown). 140 x 71 mm. Paper.
This note won the Special Achievement Award at the 2017 Security Currency Printing Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

2010 Commemorative Issues

These notes commemorate the 40th National Day (18 November), the day Sultan Qaboos bin Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father in 1970. It is also the sultan’s birthday.
Each note has a 6-digit serial number and fractional alphanumeric prefix (999,999 notes per prefix). The prefix on each denomination starts at ا/د (D/1), and the number advances consecutively over time.

Description: 5.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 153 x 76 mm

Red. Front: Arabic text; khanjar (dagger) in green SPARK; crown as registration device; Sultan Qaboos University building with clock tower; Sultan Qaboos bin Said; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); main entrance of the CBO headquarters. Back: English text; Nizwa buildings; 40th National Day logo; crown. varifeye thread and windowed security thread with demetalized 5 RIALS. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype 5. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 153 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 160 x 76 mm

Brown. Front: Arabic text; urn in green SPARK; crown as registration device; Salalah Tower; palm trees; Sultan Qaboos bin Said coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); main entrance of the CBO headquarters. Back: English text; Muttrah Fort and town with harbor; 40th National Day logo; crown. varifeye thread and windowed security thread with demetalized 10 RIALS. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype 10. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 160 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 20.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 167 x 76 mm

Blue, olive green, and purple. Front: Arabic text; green SPARK feature; crown as registration device; Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Bausher; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); Sultan Qaboos bin Said; main entrance of the CBO headquarters. Back: English text; coat of arms; Royal Opera House building in Muscat; 40th National Day logo; crown. varifeye thread and windowed security thread with demetalized 20 RIALS. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype 20. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 167 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 174 x 76 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; crown in green SPARK; crown as registration device; Ministry of Finance and Economy building; Sultan Qaboos bin Said; Mirani Fort; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); main entrance of the CBO headquarters. Back: English text; Cabinet building; Ministry of Commerce and Industry building; 40th National Day logo; crown. varifeye thread and windowed security thread with demetalized 50 RIALS. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype 50. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 174 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 174 x 76 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; crown in gold-to-green SPARK Live Truspin; crown as registration device; Ministry of Finance and Economy building; Sultan Qaboos bin Said; Mirani Fort; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); main entrance of the CBO headquarters. Back: English text; Cabinet building; Ministry of Commerce and Industry building; 40th National Day logo; crown. gold-to-blue varifeye ColourChange Patch and green-to-gold RollingStar windowed security thread. Watermark: Sultan and electrotype 50. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 174 x 76 mm. Paper.

2005 Commemorative Issues

This 1-rial note commemorates the 35th National Day (18 November), the day Sultan Qaboos bin Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father in 1970. It is also the sultan’s birthday.

Description: 1.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 145 x 76 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms with crossed swords and khanjar (dagger); incense burner; Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Back: English text; Shabab Oman sailing ship; birds; 35th National Day logo; mosque minaret; jewellery; Jalali Fort. Solid security thread. Watermark: Sultan and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 145 x 76 mm. Paper.

1995 Issues

Description: Half Note (1/2 or 0.50) OMR – Omani Rial Size: 135 x 64 mm

Brown. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; Bahla Fort; Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Back: English text; Nakhl Fort and Al-Hazm Fort. Solid security thread. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 135 x 64 mm. Paper.

2000 Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but with holographic stripes at right front, and new dates. The prefixes on these notes resume where the preceding issues end.

Description: 5.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 153 x 76 mm

Red. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; Sultan Qaboos University building with clock tower; Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Back: English text; Nizwa buildings. Solid security thread printed with Arabic text. Holographic stripe. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Unknown). 153 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 160 x 76 mm

Brown. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; Salalah Tower; palm trees; Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Back: English text; Muttrah Fort and town with harbor. Solid security thread printed with Arabic text. Holographic stripe. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Unknown). 160 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 20.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 167 x 76 mm

Light blue. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; building; Sultan Qaboos bin Said; Broadcasting Tower in Ruwi. Back: English text; Muscat Security Market; Rysayl industrial area; Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry building. Solid security thread printed with Arabic text. Holographic stripe. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Unknown). 167 x 76 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 174 x 76 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; Ministry of Finance and Economy building; Sultan Qaboos bin Said; Mirani Fort. Back: English text; Cabinet building; Ministry of Commerce and Industry building. Solid security thread printed with Arabic text. Holographic stripe. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Unknown). 174 x 76 mm. Paper.

1995 Issues

Each note has a 6-digit serial number and fractional alphanumeric prefix (999,999 notes per prefix). The prefix on each denomination starts at ا/ج (G/1), and the number advances consecutively over time.

Description: 100 baisa (demonetized 01.08.2019) Size: 121 x 64 mm

CAUTION!!!
THIS NOTES ARE WORTH ONLY 0.10 RIALS.
WE DO NOT BUY THIS NOTE.

Green. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; falaj (irrigation channel) with palm trees; Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Back: English text; birds; Verreaux’s eagle; white oryx. Solid security thread. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 121 x 64 mm. Paper.

Description: 200 baisa (demonetized 01.08.2019) Size: 128 x 64 mm

CAUTION!!!
THIS NOTES ARE WORTH ONLY 0.20 RIALS.
WE DO NOT BUY THIS NOTE.

Dark blue. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; Seeb (MCT) and Salalah (SLL) airports with jet; Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Back: English text; Marine Science & Fisheries Centre building; Raysut Port. Solid security thread. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 128 x 64 mm. Paper.

Description: 1.00 OMR – Omani Rial Size: 146 x 76 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; coat of arms; highways; Sultan Qaboos Sports Centre stadium; Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Back: English text; three dhows on stilts; khanjar (dagger); jewellery. Solid security thread printed with Arabic text. Watermark: Sultan. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 146 x 76 mm. Paper.