The Central Bank of Oman has issued a circular instructing all CBO-licensed banks, finance and leasing companies, payment service providers and money exchange establishments to use the newly launched Omani rial symbol in a standardised way across official, financial and digital contexts. Licensed institutions must apply the symbol strictly in line with the specifications and usage standards set out in Annexure I (Omani Rial Sign Guidelines) and deploy it across customer-facing channels, payment interfaces, operational systems and official documents. The circular lists use cases including statements and receipts, ATM and cash deposit machine screens, online and mobile banking and payment screens, POS and QR payment interfaces, e-commerce checkout pages, transaction notifications, cheque and direct debit returns, dispute and chargeback documentation, internal systems and supervisory returns, and publications and promotional materials. The symbol must not be altered or stylised in ways that could cause ambiguity, while institutions may continue to use the internationally accepted Omani rial currency code where required for cross-border activity, correspondent banking and international payment and messaging systems such as SWIFT. Institutions are required to complete the necessary system and operational changes by 31 July 2026 under appropriate senior management oversight.
Central Bank of Oman 2026-02-12
Central Bank of Oman orders licensed financial institutions to adopt the Omani rial symbol across customer channels by 31 July 2026
The Central Bank of Oman mandates all licensed financial institutions to standardize the new Omani rial symbol across platforms. The directive requires adherence to guidelines for its use in customer channels, systems, and documents, while allowing the international currency code for cross-border activities. Changes must be implemented by 31 July 2026 under senior management oversight.