Residents and workers in Oman have until the close of banking hours on Monday, 21 September 2026, to exchange older Omani rial banknotes that were replaced by the current Sixth Series.
- Deadline: Monday, 21 September 2026, by close of banking hours.
- Rule: The Central Bank of Oman will no longer accept older notes for exchange after this date, making them invalid.
- Notice: The CBO issued a formal reminder on its official X account on 7 September 2026.
The affected currency includes all banknotes issued prior to the Sixth Series, which launched in 2020.
Specifically, this covers 100 baisa, 200 baisa, half rial, and 1 rial notes from November 1995; 5, 10, 20, and 50 rial notes from November 2000; the 1 rial commemorative note from 2005; the 20 rial commemorative note from 2010; 5, 10, and 50 rial notes from 2011 to 2012; the 1 rial commemorative note from 2015; and the 50 rial note from 2019. The current 2020-designed Sixth Series notes remain valid legal tender.
Individuals can exchange their old notes at any licensed bank operating within the Sultanate, such as Bank Muscat, NBO, Sohar International, or HSBC Oman.
Holders should present their original notes and a valid Civil ID or resident card. According to CBO guidelines, damaged notes may be accepted provided that key identification features, including serial numbers and a sufficient portion of the note, remain visible. The CBO advises the public not to wait until the final day, as branch activity may be high and operating hours for smaller branches vary.
The initiative is particularly relevant to the expatriate community in Oman, including workers from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines, who may hold older currency in home savings or petty cash reserves.
After 21 September 2026, the CBO will not process any further claims for these withdrawn series.