Guide to Detecting Counterfeit Omani Rial (OMR) Notes

How to Identify Counterfeit OMR (﷼) Currency Notes

For Indian travellers planning a trip to the beautiful Sultanate of Oman, ensuring the authenticity of your currency is a critical step often overlooked. While exchanging Indian Rupees (INR) for Omani Rials (OMR) in India or upon arrival in Oman, it's vital to be vigilant. Knowing how to spot a fake Omani Rial can protect your hard-earned money and prevent unexpected inconveniences during your travels. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key security features of various OMR denominations.

Key Security Features of Omani Rial Bank Notes

Raised Printing (Intaglio):

Key elements on the banknote, such as the portrait of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik (or Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said on older series), the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) logo, the value numerals, and some text, are printed with a special technique that gives them a raised feel. You can feel this by running your finger over these areas.

Watermark:

Hold the banknote up to the light. A watermark of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's portrait (or Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said on older notes) and the denomination numeral (electrotype numbers) should become visible in the unprinted area.

Security Thread:

A metallic security thread is embedded vertically in the banknote. When held against the light, this thread appears as a continuous, dark line. It often has inscriptions such as "CBO" and the denomination numeral in tiny letters. On higher denominations (like the new 50 Rial), it is a "windowed" security thread and exhibits dynamic effects or colour shifts when tilted (e.g., green-to-gold).

Colour-Changing Ink (Optically Variable Ink - OVI / SPARK / RollingStar):

On certain denominations, a specific design element or the denomination numeral is printed with ink (OVI / SPARK / RollingStar) that changes colour and shows dynamic effects when the banknote is tilted.

See-Through Register (Perfect Registration):

A design element, such as a partial Omani Coat of Arms (Khanjar) or a specific geometric shape, is printed partially on the front and partially on the back of the banknote. When held up to the light, both parts should align perfectly to form a complete and clear image or numeral.

Microprinting:

Very tiny text or numerals are incorporated into various parts of the banknote design, often within lines or borders. These are visible only under a magnifying glass and appear sharp and distinct on genuine notes, whereas they may be blurred on counterfeit notes.

UV Features (Fluorescence):

Under ultraviolet (UV) light, specific areas of the banknote, such as security fibres embedded in the paper, parts of the design, and some serial numbers, will fluoresce (glow) in various colours. The paper itself should generally not glow brightly. For some notes, the Sultan's portrait itself might fluoresce or change colour under UV light.

A Detailed Guide to Identifying Counterfeit OMR Currency by Denomination

Denomination	Dominant Colour	Front Image	Reverse Image	Key Security Features
½ Rial (500 Baisa)	Green	Coat of arms of the Sultanate of Oman, Ayn Khor Seasonal waterfall, and the Boswellia Sacra tree	Sooty Falcon at rest and in flight, and the Arabian Leopard	Raised print, watermark (Coat of Arms of Oman + "½"), dark thread ("CBO" + "½"), see-through Khanjar, microprinting, UV serials & fibres, glowing Khanjar/portrait outline
1 Rial	Red	Oman Across Ages Museum, in Nizwa; Omani coat of arms at right.	Khasab Castle - Musandan, Wadi Ain Cemetery - Ibri, khanjar Omani dagger and Jirs hatchet.	Raised print, watermark ("1" + national emblem of Oman), thread with "CBO"/"1", see-through Khanjar, microtext, UV glowing serials, fibres, glowing museum & signature
5 Rials	Purple	Sultan Haitham bin Tarik	Royal Opera House Muscat	Raised print, watermark ("5" + Sultan), windowed thread, SPARK ink ("5"), see-through Khanjar, microtext, UV glowing Opera House, fibres, signature
10 Rials	Beige	Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque	The Great Mosque in Al Baleed and the Niche of al-Uweyna Mosque	Raised print, watermark ("10" + Sultan), SPARK ink with tilt effect, color-shifting thread, see-through register, microtext, UV elements + signature glow
20 Rials	Blue	Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Al Batinah Expressway	Muscat International Airport, Salalah International Airport and Sohar Industrial Port	Raised print, watermark ("20" + Sultan), color-shifting windowed thread, SPARK ink ("20"), see-through register, microtext, UV airport features, fibres
50 Rials (Commemorative)	Green	Sultan Qaboos bin Said and Central Bank of Oman	Council of Oman, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Finance	Raised print, watermark ("50" + Qaboos), advanced thread with 3D effects, SPARK Live Truespin, microtext, see-through Coat of Arms, glowing signature

1. The ½ Rial Banknote

Front and Back Image: The ½ Rial banknote features Coat of arms of the Sultanate of Oman, Ayn Khor Seasonal waterfall, and the Boswellia Sacra tree. The reverse side has Oman's Fauna representatives - the Sooty Falcon at rest and in flight, and the Arabian Leopard. Its dominant colour is green.
Raised Printing: Feel the “Central Bank of Oman” text, the “½” Rial numeral, and the ornamental patterns for a raised feel.
Watermark: Hold the note to the light to see the multi-tonal watermark of the Coat of Arms of Oman and the electrotype “½” Rial numeral in the unprinted area.
Security Thread: A continuous dark security thread is visible against light, with "CBO" and "½" Rial inscriptions.
See-Through Register: The colored Khanjar on the front aligns perfectly with its outline on the back when held to the light.
Microprinting: Fine, sharp microtext, such as "CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN" or the denomination, is located within the borders or specific lines of the design (e.g., near the portrait or main imagery).
UV Features: Under UV light, the serial numbers will fluoresce, embedded security fibres will glow in multiple colors, and some graphic elements or patterns (e.g., specific lines in the background, a glowing Khanjar or outline of the Sultan's portrait) will appear or change color.

2. The 1 Rial Banknote

Front and Back Image: The 1 Rial banknote features the Oman Across Ages Museum in Nizwa and the Omani Coat of Arms on the front. The reverse side depicts Khasab Castle (Musandam), Wadi Ain Cemetery (Ibri), the Omani khanjar dagger, and a Jirs hatchet. Its dominant colour is red.
Raised Printing: Feel the value numeral “1”, the “Central Bank of Oman” text, and the tactile ornamental patterns for a raised texture.
Watermark: Hold the note to light to see the multi-tonal watermark of the Coat of Arms of Oman and the electrotype “1” Rial numeral in the unprinted area.
Security Thread: A continuous dark security thread with "CBO" and "1" Rial inscriptions is visible when held to the light.
See-Through Register: The colored Khanjar on the front aligns perfectly with its outline on the back when held to the light to form a complete image.
Microprinting: Tiny text, such as "OMAN" or "CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN," is embedded in fine lines, for example, along the top or bottom borders of the note, or within specific decorative elements.
UV Features: Under UV light, the serial numbers will glow, multi-colored security fibres will be visible, and specific design elements (e.g., parts of the museum image, patterns) or the Sultan's signature may fluoresce or change color.

3. The 5 Rials Banknote

Front and Back Image: The 5 Rials banknote features the portrait of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan Qaboos University, and the Royal Opera House Muscat on the reverse. Its dominant colour is purple.
Raised Printing: Feel the Sultan's portrait, the words "Central Bank of Oman," the large "5" Rial numeral, and the tactile patterns for a distinct raised texture.
Watermark: Hold the note to light to see the detailed multi-tonal Sultan Haitham portrait watermark and the electrotype "5" Rial numeral in the designated area.
Security Thread: This note features a windowed security thread. When held to light, it distinctly shows "5 RIALS" in Arabic and Latin characters.
Colour-Changing Ink (SPARK): The denomination numeral "5" on the front is printed with SPARK ink. When tilted, it exhibits a clear colour shift (from purple to green) and dynamic light effects, often appearing to move.
See-Through Register: The colored Khanjar on the front aligns precisely with its outline on the reverse when held to the light.
Microprinting: Tiny text, such as "CBO" or "OMANI RIALS," is present within the lines of the background design or within the large "5" numeral itself, requiring magnification to read.
UV Features: Under UV light, the serial numbers glow, embedded security fibres are visible in multiple colors, and specific graphic elements (e.g., a glowing part of the Opera House, other patterns) or the Sultan's signature will fluoresce.

4. The 10 Rials Banknote

Front and Back Image: The 10 Rials banknote features the portrait of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque on the font. The reverse side features the Great Mosque in the Al Baleed and Niche of al-Uweyna Mosque. Its dominant colour is beige.
Raised Printing: Feel for prominent raised print on the Sultan's portrait, "Central Bank of Oman," the large "10" Rial numeral, and the integrated tactile patterns for the visually impaired.
Watermark: Hold the note to light to see the detailed multi-tonal Sultan Haitham portrait watermark and the electrotype "10" Rial numeral with light and shade effects in the unprinted area.
Security Thread: A windowed security thread with "CBO" and "10" Rial inscriptions is present. It exhibits dynamic effects or color shifts (e.g., green to gold/blue) when tilted, and appears continuous against light.
Colour-Changing Ink (SPARK): The numeral "10" will shift colour (e.g., green to gold/blue) with dynamic motion when the note is tilted. This is typically a prominent feature on the front side.
See-Through Register: The colored Khanjar or Omani Coat of Arms on the front aligns perfectly with its outline on the back when viewed against light.
Microprinting: Tiny text, often "CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN" or the denomination, is printed within the fine lines of the background pattern or within the main design elements (e.g., around the portrait or within the mosque's architecture).
UV Features: Under UV light, the serial numbers glow, embedded fibres appear in various colors, and specific graphic elements (e.g., parts of the mosque design, patterns, a glowing outline of the Sultan's signature) will fluoresce vividly.

5. The 20 Rials Banknote

Front and Back Image: The 20 Rials banknote features the portrait of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the Al Batinah Expressway. The reverse side contains the Muscat International Airport, Salalah International Airport and Sohar Industrial Port. Its dominant colour is blue.
Raised Printing: Feel the distinct raised print on the Sultan's portrait, the value "20," "Central Bank of Oman," and tactile ornamental patterns.
Watermark: Hold the note to light to see the detailed multi-tonal Sultan Haitham portrait watermark and the "20" Rial numeral (electrotype).
Security Thread: A sophisticated windowed security thread with "CBO" and "20" Rial inscriptions is present, displaying clear color shifts or movement when tilted, and appearing continuous against light.
Colour-Changing Ink (SPARK): The numeral "20" exhibits a prominent color shift (e.g., gold-to-green) with dynamic effects when tilted. This is a key visual identifier on the front side.
See-Through Register: A design (like a Khanjar or Omani Coat of Arms) aligns perfectly when held to light.
Microprinting: Very fine and sharp microtext is present in various areas, such as along the borders, within the background security patterns, or in the outline of large numbers.
UV Features: Multiple elements, including serial numbers, multi-colored security fibres, and specific parts of the airport design or other graphic elements, will fluoresce vividly under UV light. The Sultan's signature may also show a unique UV reaction.

6. The 50 Rials Banknote (Commemorative)

Front and Back Image: The front (obverse) shows a portrait of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Central Bank of Oman building. The back (reverse) features the three important institutions: the Council of Oman, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Finance. Its dominant colour is green.
Raised Printing: Feel for very prominent and detailed raised print on the Sultan's portrait, the large "50," the "Central Bank of Oman" text, and the tactile ornamental patterns for the visually impaired.
Watermark: Hold the note to light to see the highly detailed multi-tonal Sultan Qaboos portrait watermark and the electrotype "50" Rial numeral with intricate shading, visible in the unprinted white area.
Security Thread: A wide, advanced windowed security thread with "CBO" and "50" Rial is integrated. It displays significant dynamic effects (e.g., moving patterns or 3D effects of crocodiles) and distinct color shifts (e.g., gold-to-green) when tilted, appearing continuous against light.
Colour-Changing Ink (SPARK Live Truespin): A key design element or the numeral "50" shows a striking color change (e.g., green to gold) and a dynamic Truespin motion effect (a rotating circle within the feature) when the note is tilted. This is a prominent circular feature on the front.
See-Through Register: A complex design (e.g., the Omani Coat of Arms) aligns perfectly and sharply when held to light, forming a complete image.
Microprinting: Extensive and extremely fine microtext is present in various intricate patterns, for example, within the lines surrounding the portrait, in the background security patterns, and within the large numeral "50," requiring high magnification to read clearly.
UV Features: Numerous security elements fluoresce brightly and distinctly under UV light. This includes multi-colored security fibres scattered across the note, glowing patterned designs in the background, serial numbers that fluoresce, and specific features like the Sultan's signature or the Khanjar.

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