Omani rial sign
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The Omani rial sign is the currency sign used for the Omani rial, the official currency of Oman. The design was presented to the public by the Central Bank of Oman on 19 November 2025.[1] It consists stylized Arabic letters ʿayn (ع) and rāʾ (ر), crossed by two lines. The symbol should precede the value, e.g., 10, with an intervening space.
The symbol is scheduled to be available in Unicode version 18.0 as U+20C4 omani rial sign, expected for September 2026.[2]
Design
According to the Central Bank of Oman, "the symbol’s design is based on principles of simplicity, clarity, and ease of use in both handwritten and digital contexts. It reflects Oman’s cultural and linguistic identity, is clearly distinguishable from other currency symbols, and conveys stability and strength through its structured, geometric form".[3]
The bank says that the design draws inspiration from Oman’s historical connection to the Arabic language and the tradition of Arabic calligraphy. It was developed by simplifying key elements and linking them to the linguistic and visual identity of the Sultanate, and is built on three main foundations: the use of straight, structured lines to signify stability and strength; the incorporation of the Arabic letter ʿayn (ع), the first letter of Omani (عماني), reflecting national affiliation; and the Arabic letter rāʾ (ر),the first letter of rial (ريال), which directly identifies the currency.[3]
The official symbol of the Omani rial was announced on 19 November 2025 by the Central Bank of Oman, following approval by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. The Central Bank stated that the introduction of a unified currency symbol is intended to support the rial's consistent representation across financial, commercial, and digital platforms, facilitate international transactions, and increase its recognisability. The launch was also linked to wider financial modernisation efforts under Oman Vision 2040 and to Oman's historical role in regional and international trade.[1]
External links
- Media related to Omani rial sign at Wikimedia Commons
- Omani Rial Symbol Guidelines (Central Bank of Oman)
References
- ^ a b "CBO Launches Official Symbol for Omani Rial". Oman News Agency. 2025-11-19. Archived from the original on 2026-01-03. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ "Proposed New Characters: The Pipeline". Unicode Technical Committee. 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ^ a b "Omani Rial Symbol Guidelines" (PDF). Central Bank of Oman. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-01-03. Retrieved 2026-01-03.