Maal Card Fees in Oman: What You Pay and What Shops Pay
The Central Bank of Oman set the Maal fee structure when the card started on 20 November 2025. Cardholders pay no issuance or annual fee; shops pay lower, capped fees.
For people holding a card, the headline is simple: Maal costs nothing to get or keep. The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) approved the fee structure on 18 November 2025, just before the pilot began on 20 November, and the pieces that matter to you and to shop owners are below. We last checked on 6 November 2026. For what the card is and how to get one, see our Maal overview.
What cardholders pay
| Item | Charge | |---|---| | Issuance and reissuance | Waived under the CBO structure | | Annual fee | Waived | | Lost or damaged card (Bank Muscat) | OMR 2.100 | | ATM withdrawal at Bank Muscat ATM (Bank Muscat) | Nil | | ATM withdrawal at another bank's ATM in Oman (Bank Muscat) | OMR 0.105 | | Balance check at another bank's ATM (Bank Muscat) | OMR 0.053 |
The CBO said ATM cash-withdrawal and related service fees stay under its existing rules, so the last rows are one bank's table and will differ elsewhere. Look up your own bank's tariff.
What banks and payment providers pay
During the initial phase, banks and payment service providers do not pay for using the OmanNet network to issue and process Maal transactions. The CBO frames this as a way to lower costs across the system and push digital payments.
What merchants pay
Maal sets lower, capped merchant service fees for debit and prepaid transactions at card terminals and online gateways. The tiers reported at launch:
- Government entities: a lower cap
- Money exchange and remittance companies: fixed fees
- Small businesses holding the Riyada card: preferential rates
- Charities: no fees when they accept zakat, sadaqat and donations
The CBO said acceptance costs for merchants and small businesses could fall by up to half compared with other cards. The Observer's June 2026 report on the CBO's later reforms repeats that Maal merchant fees are roughly half those of other schemes. We could not open the CBO's own fee table, so we cannot quote the exact percentage caps.
What changed in 2026
On 17 June 2026 the CBO announced a wider reform of payment fees that took effect on 1 July 2026. According to the Observer:
- Local transfers by RTGS, ACH and the instant payment system through digital channels, including e-wallets, are free for retail customers and small businesses.
- Person-to-person instant payments using a mobile number or alias are free for everyone.
- The merchant fee for QR "scan and pay" payments falls from 0.75 percent to 0.50 percent, capped at OMR 2 per transaction.
These changes are separate from Maal itself but sit in the same effort to cut the cost of payments in Oman.
Remaining gaps
Banks describe shop terminal acceptance as being switched on gradually, so you may meet a terminal that does not yet take Maal. We found no published count of cards issued. For related changes to money in Oman, see the new rial symbol.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay to get a Maal card?
No. The CBO's fee structure waives issuance, reissuance and annual fees for customers on Maal debit and prepaid cards. Bank Muscat charges OMR 2.100 only if you lose the card or damage it.
What does an ATM withdrawal cost?
ATM fees follow the CBO's existing rules. Bank Muscat's table shows OMR 0 at its own ATMs and OMR 0.105 at other banks' ATMs in Oman. Check your own bank's schedule.
Will shops charge me extra to pay with Maal?
The CBO structure we read caps what shops pay their bank. It does not describe any charge to the customer at the till.