Omani rial

Omani rial
ريال عماني (Arabic)
ISO 4217
Code	OMR
Denominations
Subunit
​1⁄1000	baisa
Symbol	﷼
Banknotes
Freq. used	100 baisa, ​1⁄2, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 rials
Rarely used	200 baisa
Coins	5, 10, 25, 50 baisa
Demographics
User(s)	Oman
Issuance
Central bank	Central Bank of Oman
Website	www.cbo-oman.org
Valuation
Inflation	4.1%
Source	The World Factbook, 2011 est.
Pegged with	US dollar (USD)[1] 1 USD = 0.384497 OMR

The rial (Arabic: ريال‎, ISO 4217 code OMR) is the currency of Oman. It is divided into 1000 baisa (also written baisa, بيسة). The Omani rial is the world's 3rd highest valued currency.

History

Before 1940, the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa thaler (known locally as the rial) were the main currencies circulating in Muscat and Oman, as the state was then known, with rupees circulating on the coast and Thaler in the interior. Maria Theresa Thaler were valued at 230 paisa, with 64 paisa equal to the rupee.^[2]

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 to the rial. The Indian rupee and, from 1959, the Gulf rupee continued to circulate.

In 1970, the rial Saidi (not to be confused with Saudi riyal) was made the currency of Oman. It was equal to the British pound and replaced the Gulf rupee at a rate of approximately 21 rupees to the rial. The new rial was subdivided into 1000 baisa. The rial Omani replaced the rial Saidi at par in 1973. The currency name was altered due to the regime change in 1970 and the subsequent change of the country's name.

For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see The History of British Currency in the Middle East.

Coins

In the 1890s, coins for ​¹⁄₁₂ and ​¹⁄₄ anna (​¹⁄₃ 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. ​¹⁄₂ 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, ​¹⁄₂ 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. ​¹⁄₄ and ​¹⁄₂ rial coins were introduced in 1980. Coins currently circulating are^[3]

• 5 baisa
• 10 baisa
• 25 baisa
• 50 baisa

100 baisa, ​¹⁄₄ rial, and ​¹⁄₂ rial coins made of non-precious metal were also issued in the 1980s.

Banknotes

On 7 May 1970, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman issued banknotes in denominations of 100 baisa, ​¹⁄₄, ​¹⁄₂, 1, 5 and 10 rial saidi.^[4] These were followed by notes for 100 baisa, ​¹⁄₄, ​¹⁄₂, 1, 5 and 10 Omani rials issued by the Oman Currency Board on 18 November 1972.^[5]

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 in 1995, and the 5-rial notes and higher were updated in 2000 with foil strips:

1995 Series
Image		Value	Main Colour	Description
Obverse	Reverse			Obverse	Reverse
		100 baisa	Green	Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, irrigation canal	Verreaux eagle, white oryx
		​1⁄2 rial	Brownish-purple	Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Bahla fortress	Al-Hazim fort, Nakhal Fort
		1 rial	Purple	Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex	Omani Khanjar (dagger), silver bracelets and ornaments, dhows
		5 rials	Red	Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan Qaboos University	Nizwa
		10 rials	Brown	Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Al-Nadha tower	Muttrah Fort
		20 rials	Blue	Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (Muscat)	Royal Opera House Muscat
		50 rials	Pink & violet	Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Ministry of Finance and Economy Building (Muscat)	Cabinet building and Ministry of Finance and Industry building (Muscat)

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.^[6]

As of 2017, notes in circulation are the 2010 series for higher denominations, the 2015 1-rial note, and the 1995 series of 100 baisa and ​¹⁄₂ rial. The 200-baisa note is still in circulation but not commonly seen, and older notes of 1-rial and above are still accepted though not found in circulation.

Fixed exchange rate

From 1973 to 1986, the rial was pegged to U.S. dollar at 1 rial = $2.895 USD. In 1986, the rate was changed to 1 rial = $2.6008 USD,^[7] which translates to approximately $1 USD = 0.384497 rial. The Central Bank buys U.S. dollars at 0.384 rial, and sell U.S. dollars at 0.385 rial.^[8] It is the third-highest-valued currency unit after the Kuwaiti dinar and the Bahraini dinar.

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

See also

• Gulf rupee
• Economy of Oman
• Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

References

External links

• Information on Omani currency
• Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Coins used in Oman
• The banknotes of Oman (in English) (in German)