The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries consist of six Arab countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are located in close proximity to each other across a relatively small area, alongside the Arabian Gulf (or Persian Gulf, as Iranians call it). Many travelers are likely to visit more than one country in the region because of their geographical closeness to each other, cultural and religious links, and rapidly growing economies, and so I have written this article to explain the various currencies in use. Most of the currencies in the region are pegged to the U.S. dollar. This means that their exchange rate against the U.S. dollar always remains the same, and this makes it easier for travelers to convert values to U.S. dollars because the rates do not change every day, as is usual with other currencies.
Some sample exchange values are provided for each currency.
Bahrain – Bahraini Dinar (BHD). There are 1,000 fils to each dinar. The Bahraini dinar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of 0.38 dinars to the dollar. To covert dinars to U.S. dollars, multiply an amount of dinars by 2.65. To convert U.S. dollars to dinars, multiply an amount of dollars by 0.38. The website of the Central Bank of Bahrain (previously known as the Bahrain Monetary Agency) can be consulted at http://www.cbb.gov.bh/ for the latest information about Bahraini currency. Saudi riyals can also be used in Bahrain. The conversion rate is 1 Bahraini dinar for 10 Saudi riyals.
USD | BHD | USD | BHD | USD | BHD | ||
1 = | 0.3739 | 10 = | 3.739 | 55 = | 20.5645 | ||
2 = | 0.7478 | 15 = | 5.6085 | 60 = | 22.434 | ||
3 = | 1.1217 | 20 = | 7.478 | 65 = | 24.3035 | ||
4 = | 1.4956 | 25 = | 9.3475 | 70 = | 26.173 | ||
5 = | 1.8695 | 30 = | 11.217 | 75 = | 28.0425 | ||
6 = | 2.2434 | 35 = | 13.0865 | 80 = | 29.912 | ||
7 = | 2.6173 | 40 = | 14.956 | 85 = | 31.7815 | ||
8 = | 2.9912 | 45 = | 16.8255 | 90 = | 33.651 | ||
9 = | 3.3651 | 50 = | 18.695 | 95 = | 35.5205 |
Kuwait – Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD). There are 1,000 fils to the dinar. The Kuwaiti currency is the only GCC currency that is not pegged to the U.S. dollar, so the KWD-dollar exchange rate varies on a day-to-day basis. As of May 10, 2013, the dinar was worth 3.5 U.S. dollars (0.29 KWD). For example, 50 dinars would be worth 175 U.S. dollars (50 * 3.5). More information about the Kuwaiti currency can be found at the website for the Central Bank of Kuwait at http://www.cbk.gov.kw.
USD | KWD | USD | KWD | USD | KWD | ||
1 = | 0.2841 | 10 = | 2.841 | 55 = | 15.6255 | ||
2 = | 0.5682 | 15 = | 4.2615 | 60 = | 17.046 | ||
3 = | 0.8523 | 20 = | 5.682 | 65 = | 18.4665 | ||
4 = | 1.1364 | 25 = | 7.1025 | 70 = | 19.887 | ||
5 = | 1.4205 | 30 = | 8.523 | 75 = | 21.3075 | ||
6 = | 1.7046 | 35 = | 9.9435 | 80 = | 22.728 | ||
7 = | 1.9887 | 40 = | 11.364 | 85 = | 24.1485 | ||
8 = | 2.2728 | 45 = | 12.7845 | 90 = | 25.569 | ||
9 = | 2.5569 | 50 = | 14.205 | 95 = | 26.9895 |
Oman – Omani Rial (OMR). There are 1,000 baisa to the rial. The Omani rial is pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of 0.38 rials to the dollar. To convert rials to U.S. dollars, multiply an amount of rials by 2.6. To convert U.S. dollars to Omani rials, multiply an amount of dollars by 0.38. For more information about the Omani currency, see the website of the Central Bank of Oman at http://www.cbo-oman.org/.
USD | OMR | USD | OMR | USD | OMR | ||
1 = | 0.3839 | 10 = | 3.839 | 55 = | 21.1145 | ||
2 = | 0.7678 | 15 = | 5.7585 | 60 = | 23.034 | ||
3 = | 1.1517 | 20 = | 7.678 | 65 = | 24.9535 | ||
4 = | 1.5356 | 25 = | 9.5975 | 70 = | 26.873 | ||
5 = | 1.9195 | 30 = | 11.517 | 75 = | 28.7925 | ||
6 = | 2.3034 | 35 = | 13.4365 | 80 = | 30.712 | ||
7 = | 2.6873 | 40 = | 15.356 | 85 = | 32.6315 | ||
8 = | 3.0712 | 45 = | 17.2755 | 90 = | 34.551 | ||
9 = | 3.4551 | 50 = | 19.195 | 95 = | 36.4705 |
Qatar – Qatari Riyal (QAR). There are 100 dirhams to the Qatari riyal. The Qatari riyal is pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of 3.64 riyals to the dollar. To convert riyals to U.S. dollars, multiply an amount of riyals by 0.27. To convert U.S. dollars to Qatari riyals, multiply an amount of dollars by 3.64. For more information about Qatari currency, see the website of the Qatar Central Bank at http://www.qcb.gov.qa/english.
USD | QAR | USD | QAR | USD | QAR | ||
1 = | 3.6379 | 10 = | 36.379 | 55 = | 200.085 | ||
2 = | 7.2758 | 15 = | 54.5685 | 60 = | 218.274 | ||
3 = | 10.9137 | 20 = | 72.758 | 65 = | 236.464 | ||
4 = | 14.5516 | 25 = | 90.9475 | 70 = | 254.653 | ||
5 = | 18.1895 | 30 = | 109.137 | 75 = | 272.843 | ||
6 = | 21.8274 | 35 = | 127.327 | 80 = | 291.032 | ||
7 = | 25.4653 | 40 = | 145.516 | 85 = | 309.221 | ||
8 = | 29.1032 | 45 = | 163.706 | 90 = | 327.411 | ||
9 = | 32.7411 | 50 = | 181.895 | 95 = | 345.601 |
Saudi Arabia – Saudi Riyal (SAR). The Saudi riyal is pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of 3.75 riyals to the dollar. To convert riyals into U.S. dollars, multiply an amount of riyals by 0.26. To convert U.S. dollars to riyals, multiply an amount of dollars by 3.75. There are 100 halalas to each riyal. Information about Saudi Arabian currency can be viewed at the website of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (http://www.sama.gov.sa/sites/SAMAEN). Bahraini dinars can also be used in Saudi Arabia. The conversion rate is 10 Saudi riyals for 1 Bahraini dinar.
USD | SAR | USD | SAR | USD | SAR | ||
1 = | 3.7498 | 10 = | 37.498 | 55 = | 206.239 | ||
2 = | 7.4996 | 15 = | 56.247 | 60 = | 224.988 | ||
3 = | 11.2494 | 20 = | 74.996 | 65 = | 243.737 | ||
4 = | 14.9992 | 25 = | 93.745 | 70 = | 262.486 | ||
5 = | 18.749 | 30 = | 112.494 | 75 = | 281.235 | ||
6 = | 22.4988 | 35 = | 131.243 | 80 = | 299.984 | ||
7 = | 26.2486 | 40 = | 149.992 | 85 = | 318.733 | ||
8 = | 29.9984 | 45 = | 168.741 | 90 = | 337.482 | ||
9 = | 33.7482 | 50 = | 187.49 | 95 = | 356.231 |
UAE – UAE Dirham (AED). There are 100 fils to a UAE dirham. The UAE dirham is pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of 3.67 dirhams to the dollar. To convert dirhams to U.S. dollars, multiply an amount of dirhams by 0.27. To convert U.S. dollars to dirhams, multiply an amount of dollars by 3.67. For more information about UAE currency, see the website of the Central Bank of the U.A.E. at http://www.centralbank.ae/en.
USD | AED | USD | AED | USD | AED | ||
1 = | 3.672 | 10 = | 36.72 | 55 = | 201.96 | ||
2 = | 7.344 | 15 = | 55.08 | 60 = | 220.32 | ||
3 = | 11.016 | 20 = | 73.44 | 65 = | 238.68 | ||
4 = | 14.688 | 25 = | 91.8 | 70 = | 257.04 | ||
5 = | 18.36 | 30 = | 110.16 | 75 = | 275.4 | ||
6 = | 22.032 | 35 = | 128.52 | 80 = | 293.76 | ||
7 = | 25.704 | 40 = | 146.88 | 85 = | 312.12 | ||
8 = | 29.376 | 45 = | 165.24 | 90 = | 330.48 | ||
9 = | 33.048 | 50 = | 183.6 | 95 = | 348.84 |
A very nice website can be visited at http://www.islamicbanknotes.com/ where pictures of bank notes from the region can be viewed. Another useful resource for currency information is http://www.gocurrency.com/travelers-corner where travelers can create their own pocket-sized currency conversion guide for specific countries to print, cut out, and take with them on their travels.
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