The Omani rial divides into 1,000 baisa. The Central Bank of Oman issues banknotes in denominations of 50 baisa and 100 baisa as paper, plus 1 rial, 5 rials, 10 rials, 20 rials, and 50 rials. Coins circulate as 5 baisa, 10 baisa, 25 baisa, and 50 baisa. The currency code is OMR. The rial pegs to the United States dollar at 1 OMR to 2.6008 USD, a rate fixed since 1986. This makes the Omani rial the third highest valued currency unit globally by exchange rate after the Kuwaiti dinar and Bahraini dinar. When comparing prices, one rial equals approximately 2.60 US dollars, meaning a 10 rial item costs roughly 26 US dollars. The currency symbol appears as ر.ع. in Arabic. Banknotes feature Sultan Qaboos on older notes issued before January 2020 and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on notes issued afterward. Security features include watermarks, security threads, and color-shifting ink. The 50 rial note, printed in brown and green, is the highest denomination in regular circulation.
ATMs operate throughout Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Nizwa, Sur, and other major towns. Machines typically dispense 1 rial, 5 rial, 10 rial, and 20 rial notes. Maximum withdrawal limits vary by bank but commonly range from 200 to 500 rials per transaction. Daily limits typically reach 1,000 rials. International cards from Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus networks function at most ATMs. Bank Muscat operates the largest ATM network with over 300 machines. National Bank of Oman, Ahli Bank, Bank Dhofar, and HSBC Oman maintain additional networks. ATMs at Muscat International Airport operate 24 hours. Most bank ATMs in city centers offer English language options alongside Arabic. Withdrawal fees for foreign cards typically range from 1 to 2 rials per transaction, charged by the local bank, plus any fees imposed by the card issuer. Some banks impose dynamic currency conversion, offering withdrawal in your home currency at unfavorable rates—always select OMR to avoid this markup.
Exchange bureaus cluster in Mutrah Souq, Ruwi commercial district, Muscat International Airport, and near major hotels in Muscat. Rates at airport counters typically run 3 to 5 percent below bank rates. Ruwi exchange houses on Muscat Souq Street and Al Wadi Street generally offer rates within 1 to 2 percent of official bank rates. Licensed exchange offices display Central Bank of Oman authorization certificates. US dollars, euros, British pounds, Saudi riyals, and UAE dirhams exchange readily. Other currencies require searching for specialized dealers or exchanging through banks. Bring clean, undamaged banknotes—many exchangers reject torn, heavily worn, or marked notes. US dollar bills printed before 2006 often face rejection or reduced rates due to counterfeiting concerns. Banks process currency exchange during business hours, typically Saturday through Wednesday 0800 to 1400, with Thursday shorter hours. Some banks close 1300 to 1630 for midday break. Exchange bureaus often operate longer hours, including evenings and Friday mornings.
Credit cards see acceptance in hotels, large restaurants, shopping malls, car rental agencies, tour operators, and chain retailers in Muscat, Salalah, and Sohar. Visa and Mastercard dominate acceptance. American Express functions at major hotels and some upscale establishments but faces limited acceptance elsewhere. Diners Club sees minimal acceptance. Contactless payment works at modern terminals in shopping malls and international hotel chains. Small restaurants, souqs, independent shops, roadside cafes, petrol stations in rural areas, and local transport require cash. The Mutrah Souq operates almost entirely on cash. Even in establishments that accept cards, systems occasionally fail due to connectivity issues, particularly in mountainous regions and Dhofar. Foreign transaction fees imposed by card issuers typically range from 1 to 3 percent per purchase. Some Omani merchants add 2 to 3 percent surcharges for credit card payments, though this practice technically violates merchant agreements. Always ask before completing a transaction. Card skimming incidents occur occasionally at unmanned petrol stations and poorly maintained ATMs—inspect card readers before inserting cards.
Banks in Oman open Saturday through Wednesday from 0800 to 1400. Some branches extend hours to 1600 or offer split shifts with closure from 1300 to 1630. Thursday hours typically run 0800 to 1230. Banks close Friday and on national holidays including Renaissance Day on July 23, National Day on November 18, the Prophet's Birthday (date varies), Islamic New Year (date varies), Eid al-Fitr (date varies, typically 3-4 days), and Eid al-Adha (date varies, typically 4-5 days). Bank Muscat, the largest bank, operates over 140 branches. Branches in Muscat International Airport may offer extended or seven-day service. Opening a bank account as a tourist typically requires employment visa or residency. Some banks offer non-resident accounts requiring minimum deposits ranging from 500 to 2,000 rials and extensive documentation including passport, proof of address in home country, employment verification, and bank reference letters.
Mobile payment adoption remains limited compared to cash and cards. Apple Pay launched in Oman in 2019, accepted where contactless terminals exist—primarily upscale hotels, international retailers in malls, and some restaurant chains. Samsung Pay and Google Pay also function on compatible devices at contactless terminals. Local payment app Thunes operates but primarily for person-to-person transfers and bill payments rather than merchant purchases. Bank Muscat offers mobile banking applications allowing account holders to transfer funds and pay bills. Adoption of QR code payments remains nascent outside specific merchant loyalty programs. Cash remains essential even in Muscat.
Internet service in Oman operates under duopoly of Omantel (Oman Telecommunications Company) and Ooredoo Oman. Omantel, the government-majority-owned incumbent, controls the international gateway and wholesale infrastructure. Fiber-to-the-home services through Omantel reach advertised speeds up to 500 megabits per second in Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Nizwa, and Salalah. Actual speeds vary. Ooredoo offers competing fiber services in major urban areas. Monthly residential internet costs typically range from 15 rials for 100 megabit plans to 45 rials for 500 megabit plans, excluding installation fees. ADSL services remain available in areas without fiber coverage, with speeds typically 4 to 20 megabits. Quality degrades significantly in rural areas and mountains. Wadi Shab, Wadi Bani Khalid, and remote sections of Jebel Shams lack reliable fixed internet. Satellite internet exists but primarily serves government and commercial installations. Internet censorship occurs—the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority blocks access to categories including pornography, gambling sites, content deemed offensive to Islam, sites advocating terrorism, and some political content critical of Gulf governments. VPN access faces intermittent blocking though many services continue functioning. Skype calls experience occasional disruption. Connection reliability generally proves acceptable in cities but suffers during peak evening hours when contention ratios increase.