5 Omani Rial Banknote (Royal Opera House)

5 Rials Rial Omani (Issued 2020)

Issued in 2020, this five rial note from the Central Bank of Oman reflects a period of institutional continuity in Omani monetary history, appearing shortly after the transition of leadership following the passing of Sultan Qaboos bin Said in January 2020, one of the Arab world’s longest-serving rulers. The note carries the visual legacy of his reign, preserving his portrait as a mark of the profound significance his five-decade stewardship held for the Sultanate. At the time of issue, Oman’s central bank maintained the design heritage associated with Sultan Qaboos, honouring his enduring role in shaping modern Oman. The note therefore occupies a meaningful place in the continuity of Omani currency design.

On the front, the note is dominated by a formal portrait of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said positioned to the right of centre, rendered with fine intaglio-style engraving that captures his characteristic kummah cap, turban, and traditional Omani dishdasha. His expression is composed and dignified, with the portrait set against the warm lavender and violet tones that characterise the note’s overall palette. To the left of the portrait, a detailed architectural vignette depicts what appears to be the Al Alam Palace complex set within a courtyard landscape, rendered in delicate line engraving with fine tonal gradation. The denomination numeral “٥” appears prominently in the upper right corner in Arabic script, and again in a large stylised form at the lower left, both rendered in deep violet ink. The issuing authority’s name, “البنك المركزي العُماني”, is printed in bold Arabic calligraphy across the upper portion of the note, and the denomination “خمسة ريالات” appears in clear Arabic text below the serial number. The serial number itself, printed twice — once horizontally and once vertically along the right edge — reads 7441762V and is rendered in dark ink against the pale background. A holographic security element is positioned in the upper right area, featuring a windowed security thread and an optically variable device showing the denomination numeral and a tower motif that shifts colour with the viewing angle. Two authorising signatures appear in the lower centre of the note beneath an official seal, alongside what appears to be the year date 2020/1441 in both Gregorian and Hijri calendar formats. The background of the note is layered with fine guilloché rosette patterns in soft pink, mauve, and violet tones, overlaid with intricate geometric Islamic latticework in the right-hand border panel, incorporating repeating star and polygon motifs in teal, gold, and pink.

The reverse of the note is dominated by a large, highly detailed engraved architectural scene stretching across the full width of the design, depicting a multi-storey historic fortified complex that appears to be the Mutrah or an Omani coastal palace structure, with arched colonnades, battlemented parapets, and tiered stonework rendered in meticulous line engraving in shades of violet, purple, and grey. A smaller inset architectural vignette appears in the upper left corner, showing what appears to be a tower or fortified gate structure in deep purple tones. The upper portion of the reverse carries the issuing authority’s name in English, “CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN”, in bold serif capital lettering in dark teal ink. The denomination numeral “5” appears in the upper right corner, and the words “FIVE RIALS” are printed in bold serif type at the lower right in brown ink. At the lower left, the numeral “5” is accompanied by the word “RIALS” in smaller type. The date 1441/2020 is printed in small text at the lower centre of the note, referencing both the Islamic and Gregorian years of issue. The right-hand border panel is decorated with the same geometric Islamic tile-work pattern seen on the obverse, featuring interlocking stars and polygons in teal, pink, and gold against a cream ground. The background of the reverse is laid with a fine pale lavender guilloché pattern, and a warm amber-gold tone occupies the lower left corner panel, providing chromatic contrast. The paper exhibits a watermark visible as a ghost image when held to the light, consistent with standard central bank security paper production.

This 2020 five rial Omani banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com, where current Omani Rials banknotes are bought alongside other foreign currency — ideal for clearing a drawer of mixed coins and notes at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 5 Rials Rial Omani banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com helps you exchange old coins and banknotes with no fuss, combining your Omani Rials banknotes with other foreign currency into a single, hassle-free cash exchange.

Other Omani Rials you can exchange: 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 10, 20, 50.