MUSCAT — Oman will soft launch its new national payment card, branded “Maal”, on November 20, 2025, coinciding with the country’s National Day celebrations, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) announced.
The rollout marks a major step in strengthening the Sultanate’s national payments infrastructure and accelerating digital transformation under Oman Vision 2040.
According to CBO, the majority of ATMs and e-commerce gateways across the Sultanate will be ready to accept “Maal” transactions on launch day.
However, some POS terminals may not yet be enabled during the initial phase, as banks are still completing terminal upgrades. Several banks are expected to announce card issuance to customers in the coming weeks.
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The “Maal” card will be free of issuance and reissuance fees, and no annual fees will apply. The card will be offered in both debit and prepaid versions, making it accessible to a wide range of consumers.
CBO said the initiative is designed to provide low-cost national payment options, ensuring affordability and broad access to digital financial services.
The new system will significantly reduce payment acceptance costs for government entities, merchants and SMEs, with fees cut by up to 50% compared with existing cards.
A new set of capped Merchant Service Fee (MSF) limits has been introduced for all merchant categories, including:
• Government entities
• Exchange houses and brokerage companies
• E-wallet top-up service providers
• SMEs holding Riyada Card
• Charitable organisations, which will receive full fee exemptions for accepting zakat, donations and sadaqat
CBO said the “Maal” card is a key pillar in building a nationally managed payments framework operated through the OmanNet Switch.
The new fee structure supports:
• Lower-cost national payment services available to all community segments
• Higher efficiency and sustainability of the payments ecosystem
• Greater innovation and diversity in digital financial services
• Faster transition to cashless payments, in line with Oman Vision 2040
The introduction of “Maal” is expected to accelerate digital adoption in the Sultanate and reduce reliance on foreign payment networks, positioning Oman for a more resilient and nationally governed financial ecosystem.
