Baisa is a noun that refers to a unit of currency in the Sultanate of Oman. In the Omani currency, one baisa is equal to one thousandth of an Omani Rial (OMR). This makes the baisa the smallest monetary unit in Oman. The word "baisa" itself originates from the Arabic language.
Historically, the baisa was introduced in the early 1970s, when Oman underwent a currency reform that replaced the Gulf Rupee as the country's official currency. At that time, the baisa was established as a subunit of the Omani Rial to facilitate smaller transactions and provide greater precision in monetary values. Since then, the baisa has been commonly used alongside the Omani Rial in everyday business transactions within Oman.
The baisa is available in coin denominations, with values ranging from 5 baisa to 50 baisa. While its face value is relatively low, the baisa remains an integral part of the Omani monetary system, supporting the main currency, the Omani Rial. However, due to its low value, it is not frequently used for higher-value transactions, and cash payments are often rounded to the nearest 10 baisa to simplify transactions.
In summary, the baisa is a subunit of the Omani Rial, serving as the smallest monetary unit in the Sultanate of Oman. It plays a significant role in facilitating smaller transactions and providing greater precision in monetary values within the country.
