Module 9 · Advanced · 7 min read

Three-decimal currencies: OMR, KWD and BHD

You will be able to: Explain why OMR, KWD and BHD use three decimals; Read the Subunit ratio and Decimals settings on a currency; Work out how a three-decimal amount is converted and rounded.

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Most currencies divide into 100 subunits, so amounts have 2 decimals. The Omani rial divides into 1,000 baisa, and the Kuwaiti and Bahraini dinars into 1,000 fils. Amounts in these currencies therefore have 3 decimals: OMR 12.500 is twelve rials and 500 baisa.

CurrencyCodeSubunit ratioDecimals
UAE dirhamAED1002
Saudi riyalSAR1002
Qatari riyalQAR1002
Omani rialOMR10003
Kuwaiti dinarKWD10003
Bahraini dinarBHD10003

How Zeyto stores it

In Settings ▸ Currencies each currency has a Subunit ratio (100, 1000, 10 or 1) and Decimals (0 to 3). Decimals must match the ratio: 100 gives 2, 1000 gives 3, 1 gives 0, or the save is refused. This is real precision, not appearance: invoice lines and VAT in the currency are rounded to that many places on documents you post from now on. Posted amounts never change.

The Currencies screen showing currencies that use three decimals such as the Omani rial, the Kuwaiti dinar and the Bahraini dinar.

OMR, KWD and BHD use three decimals.

OMR, KWD and BHD use three decimals.

Two precisions at once

The document face rounds to the document currency's decimals, and the books round to the base currency's decimals. They are independent. A Dubai company invoicing a Kuwaiti customer in KWD writes the invoice at 3 decimals and the ledger at 2. A Kuwait City company writes both at 3. Rounding is half-up, applied after the multiplication.

KWD invoice in an AED companyInvoice KWD 1,250.500 at an assumed rate of 11.9500 AED per KWD. 1,250.500 x 11.9500 = 14,943.475, which rounds half-up to AED 14,943.48. The customer sees KWD 1,250.500; the ledger holds AED 14,943.48.
AED invoice in a KWD companyA Kuwait company invoices AED 1,000.00 at an assumed rate of 0.083700 KWD per AED. 1,000.00 x 0.0837 = KWD 83.700. The face keeps 2 decimals (AED), the ledger holds 3 (KWD).
OMR invoice in an AED companyOMR 450.250 at an assumed 9.5400 gives 450.250 x 9.54 = 4,295.385, rounded half-up to AED 4,295.39.
Watch outThe rates above are for practice only. Always use the current rate. Also check that your printed documents and receipts show three decimals for these currencies before you rely on them.
TipWords on the invoice come from the currency's unit and subunit names (for example Rials and Baisa), in English and Arabic. Check them in Settings ▸ Currencies ▸ Units & formatting.

Try it in the demo

  1. Open Settings ▸ Currencies and use the search box to find OMR, KWD and BHD.
  2. Read their Decimals and Subunit columns (for example Fils x 1000).
  3. Open one currency and look at Units & formatting and the Live preview. Do not save.
Open the live demo

Public demo company, sign in as admin / demoAdmin123. Data refreshes nightly.

Key takeaways
  • OMR, KWD and BHD have 1,000 subunits and 3 decimals; most others have 100 and 2.
  • Decimals must match the Subunit ratio.
  • Face and books round separately: document currency decimals for the face, base currency decimals for the ledger.
  • Rounding is half-up after the multiplication.

Check yourself

5 questions on this lesson. Not timed, not the exam, and you can try again. Score 60% or more, and read the lesson, to complete it.

1. Which three currencies use three decimals?

2. For a currency with a Subunit ratio of 1000, Zeyto expects Decimals to be 3.

3. A user sets Subunit ratio 1000 but Decimals 2 on a currency. What happens?

4. An AED company invoices KWD 1,250.500 at 11.9500 AED per KWD. What is the amount in the ledger?

5. A KWD-based company issues an invoice for AED 1,000.00 at 0.083700 KWD per AED. How are the figures held?

Previous: Exchange rates: entering, choosing and trusting themNext: Realised and unrealised exchange differences

Practice questions for this module · Printable study sheet