Buying gold in Dubai: The pros and cons; and things you need to keep in mind
TL;DR: Dubai remains the world's favourite gold shopping destination thanks to its tax benefits, price transparency, and strict quality standards. However, taking gold home legally isn't as easy as it seems, given strict customs rules and declaration requirements in most countries.
Buying Gold in Dubai
: The Pros, The Cons, and The Cautions
Dubai, dubbed the 'City of Gold', has always drawn global buyers with its glittering souks, competitive prices, and strict quality control. But with international gold rates surging and regulatory oversight tightening, shoppers need to weigh convenience against compliance.
Recent figures show that Q1 2025 saw a drop of 7.9 tonnes in gold jewellery demand in the UAE, nearly 18% plunge pointing to price sensitivity even among UAE residents.
While 24K gold was fetching Dh402.25 per gram (roughly ₹9,397), 22K stood at Dh372.25 (around ₹8,700), at current exchange rates (Dh1 ≈ ₹23.39)
Turning Dubai's Gold Perks into Smart Buys
If you time your visit during big shopping events like Dubai Shopping Festival, Eid, or Diwali, you'll find jewellers bundling free making charges, small discounts, and gift vouchers to boost footfall. One seasoned buyer shared how they 'managed to waive Dh50 making fee per gram on selected bridal sets,' which when converted gives about ₹1,170 off each gram.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Instead of bouncing between dozens of shops, experienced shoppers suggest milling through a few key districts like Deira's Gold Souk versus glittering mall stores to compare not just prices, but also hallmarking quality, customer service, and after-sale support.
Negotiations on making charges are a given. For ornate designs, charges can climb up to Dh100–Dh150 (≈₹2,339–₹3,509). If a shop declines to adjust, some buyers walk away to test the retailer's flex.
Always ask for certification, these days it's hallmarked 22K or 24K, accompanied by weight-proof guarantees to prevent disputes even at re-sell time. Apps and loyalty schemes from big jewellers can deliver a few percent back, or occasional free services like cleaning or valuation.
Why Taking Dubai Gold Home Isn't Simple
Where buying is straightforward, exporting isn't. Home countries enforce vague limits that can surprise frequent travellers. For instance, in India, women may bring in just 20 g and men 40 g of gold jewellery duty-free, only if they've stayed abroad for over 12 months.
Even staying two weeks triggers full duties above those amounts.
Green-light clearance demands more than just packing jewellery. Airport customs expect duly stamped invoices and certificates, a properly filled declaration form, and sometimes proof of how long you've stayed abroad. Skip these, and a gold bar that cost Dh20,000 (₹467,800) could vanish into a seizure plus a hefty fine.
Insuring valuable gold during transit comes at a cost too, and reimbursements are not guaranteed without full paperwork.
Meanwhile, claiming a 5% VAT refund means navigating the Planet VAT desk before flight check-in—miss that, and Dh1,000 in lost refund becomes inevitable.
Dubai's Value vs. the Red Tape
Despite these hassles, Dubai still offers low markup advantages that can outweigh the hassle especially for smaller, carefully documented purchases. But over the holiday season, India and other South Asian countries may tighten limits; what works in January can be legally dicey by December.
Some buyers now shift from jewellery to certified gold bars or coins. Easier to handle, declare, insure, and resell, bars carry lower craftsmanship cost and cleaner resale paths.
FAQs:
Q. Is buying gold in Dubai worth it?
Yes, if purchases are modest and well-documented. Zero import duty and competitive margins still beat Indian rates at current Dh1 ≈ ₹23.39, but larger purchases trigger customs duties that quickly close the price gap.
Q. Why is gold cheaper in Dubai?
Because there are no import duties, only a 5% VAT which is refundable for tourists, and a highly competitive retail market that keeps margins low.
Q. Can I carry gold jewellery purchased in Dubai to India without paying duty?
Only within the allowance limits (20g for men, 40g for women, under specified value caps) and if returning after at least one year abroad. Otherwise, customs duty applies.
Q. Can I carry gold without declaring?
No. Even personal-use jewellery must be declared above free allowances, or risk fines, seizure, or criminal charges, depending on home-country rules.
Q. How can I save on VAT at Dubai's airport?
Keep invoices intact, get them stamped at the Planet VAT desk before airline check‑in, and submit them at the designated counter. Arrive early as these services close before gates.
Q. Why prefer gold bars over jewellery?
Bars simplify travel and insurance. With no making charges and straightforward valuation, bars bought in Dubai convert more predictably back to cash or trade.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
3 cos frontrunners for Deonar waste treatment project
Mumbai: Three companies emerged as frontrunners when bids were opened on Tuesday for BMC's Rs 2,368-crore bioremediation tender to scientifically treat 185 lakh tonnes of waste at the Deonar dumping ground —one of the oldest and most toxic landfills in the country. Only one of them, Re Sustainability Ltd, has experience in handling Deonar's solid waste; the other two are infrastructure companies. One of the three—Navayuga Engineering Ltd—had tied up with Adani Enterprises for a 47.8km bypass project in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, which was launched in 2021. Re Sustainability is the parent company of Chennai MSW Pvt Ltd, which is currently working on seting up a waste-to-energy plant at Deonar to process 600 tonnes of solid waste daily that is expected to be commissioned by this Oct. The other company—HG Infra Engineering Ltd—has handled highways, bridges, Metro, railways and renewable energy projects, according to its official website. Officials said a scrutiny of the bids packet was still underway as of late Tuesday evening. "The financial packet will be opened on July 11, after which the lowest bidder will be decided," said a civic official. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The Deonar cleanup project is one of the largest legacy waste treatment attempts in the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The move follows a Jan directive from the state govt asking BMC to clear the site by treating legacy waste on location. The urgency ties into the state cabinet's Oct 2023 approval to hand over a portion of the Deonar land to Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd—a joint venture between Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (an Adani Group special purpose vehicle) and the state govt. BMC had extended the deadline for submission of bids three times after floating the tender this May—from June 3 to June 23, then to July 1, and finally to July 4. The civic body had held a pre-bid meeting with interested bidders. Officials said several interested parties sought more time to study the entire process, apart from raising questions about certain environmental permissions, owing to which the extensions were granted. The queries raised by the prospective bidders were mainly related to logistical challenges. Many of them shared their concern over how such a large pile of legacy waste could be cleared within three years.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Brics rejects EU's unilateral carbon border tax proposal
Brics Summit NEW DELHI: The Brics nations have rejected the European Union's proposed carbon border tax, or the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), calling it "unilateral, punitive and discriminatory protectionist measures", and said the move, being made "under the pretext of environmental concerns", would undermine their capacities to invest in just energy transitions and development priorities. India has long been opposed to such measures and even flagged its concerns during the recent free trade agreement talks with the EU. The concerns of the group of 11 nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, over such trade barriers got reflected prominently in the 'Leaders' Framework Declaration on Climate Finance' adopted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday. The CBAM, to be implemented from next year, is a tool to impose border tax on carbon-intensive goods, such as iron & steel, aluminium and cement, that enter the 27 EU nations. Since it will impose a tariff burden on developing countries and impact their trade prospects, large exporters of such goods, including India and China, have consistently been opposing it. Condemning CBAM, the Brics nations declared that such measures are "not in line with international law", and said they oppose "unilateral protectionist measures which deliberately disrupt the global supply and production chains and distort competition". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing you should Ditch over 40 Learn More Undo Besides flagging the EU's trade barrier, the Brics nations expressed "serious concern" over pre-2020 mitigation gaps for developed countries and urged them to urgently bridge the gaps between what they promised and what they have achieved in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The group asked the rich nations to increase their 2030 climate action targets and achieve net-zero emissions significantly ahead of 2050, preferably by 2030. Referring to the critical issue of finance that is going to dominate the climate talks (CO) in Belem, Brazil, later this year, the Brics nations called upon developed countries to meet their earlier goal of jointly mobilising $100 billion per year through 2025 to address the needs of developing countries, and achieve the finance goal of $300 billion per year by 2035. "We note that substantial gaps remain in fulfilling the financing needs identified by developing countries," the declaration said. The developed countries were also urged to increase their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation, doubling the amount from 2019 levels by 2025 at the least.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
What Microsoft said on shutting down its 25-year-old operations in Pakistan: We follow this ...
Microsoft recently shut down its operations in Pakistan after 25 years. The news of Microsoft closing down its operations in Pakistan was first revealed in a LinkedIn post by Jawwad Rehman, the founding head of Microsoft Pakistan. However, the move is said to be in the offing for sometime as only a liaison office with around five employees remained in Pakistan. Microsoft has now confirmed the complete closure of the company's operations in the country. The Redmond-based company told TechCrunch that it is changing its operational model in Pakistan. The report further added that Microsoft did not have any engineering resources in Pakistan. This is unlike Microsoft's operations in India and other growing markets. The closure comes amid broader company restructuring of Microsoft's operations globally. What Microsoft said on closing operations in Pakistan 'Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change,' a Microsoft spokesperson said in an emailed statement. It added that the company will now serve its customers through resellers and 'other closely located Microsoft offices.' the spokesperson added, 'We follow this model successfully in a number of other countries around the world. Our customers remain our top priority and can expect the same high level of service going forward.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The decision will reportedly impact the five Microsoft employees in Pakistan. These employees reportedly sold Azure and Office products in the country What Microsoft Pakistan country head said on the exit In a post titled 'End of an Era… Microsoft Pakistan', the company's first-ever country head in Pakistan Rehman wrote, "Today, I learned that Microsoft is officially closing its operations in Pakistan. The last few remaining employees were formally informed and just like that, an era ends... Exactly 25 years ago, in June 2000, I had the honor of launching and leading Microsoft Pakistan." He added, "Today's news forces reflection. This is more than a corporate exit. It's a sobering signal of the environment our country has created.. one where even global giants like Microsoft find it unsustainable to stay. It also reflects on what was done (or not done) with the strong foundation we left behind by the subsequent team and regional management of Microsoft." He further said that it is time for Pakistan to reflect on what has changed. "We must ask: What changed? What was lost? What happened to the values, leadership, and vision that once made it all possible?" he wrote. "Allah grants honor and opportunity to whom He wills.. and takes it away from those who lose sight of it. But if your work leaves behind impact, integrity & inspiration.. then know that Allah's favor was with you," the post added. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
