The monetary unit is the Oman rial (RO or OR). It is divided into 1,000 baisas (also spelt ‘baiza’ making it a 3 decimal currency, not like most countries where it is a 2 decimal currency. Notes come in denominations of rials 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, 1/2 (500 baisas) and 100 baisas. Coin denominations are 50, 25, 10 and 5 baisas. Denominations are written in both Arabic and English. 

It is best to take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the currency, although shopkeepers are generally honest when giving you your change. The rial is tied to the US dollar at a mid-rate of approximately US$1 ~ RO 0.385, which has basically remained unchanged for a number of years.

The way prices are written can lead to some confusion. An item may be marked ‘RO/OR.1,500’– the price could be one thousand five hundred rials or one rial and five hundred baisas. The value of the item will usually be obvious. For clarity in this book, prices are shown in a standard way: one rial and 500 hundred baisas will be shown as RO 1.500 and one thousand five hundred rials as RO 1,500, while 15 rials will be RO 15.

For an idea on what basic items cost in Oman, compared to your home country.