Gold Rate Today in Dubai
The live table shows the gold rate in Dubai in dirhams per gram for 24K, 22K, 21K and 18K, plus 10-gram and tola weights. Gold Souk shops price from a common daily rate board close to these figures, then add a negotiable making charge and 5% VAT on jewellery.
Live gold rate in Dubai (AED)
| Weight & purity | Live price |
|---|---|
| 24K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 22K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 21K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 18K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 22K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 21K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 24K gold · 1 tola | live |
| 22K gold · 1 tola | live |
Parity from XAUUSD at the fixed 3.6725 dirham rate. Souk rate boards add a small premium; making charges and VAT are extra. How we calculate
How Dubai jewellers set the day's rate
Dubai's retail jewellers work from a shared daily rate board for each karat, set by the city's gold trade from the international price at the fixed dirham–dollar peg. The board is updated during the day when the market moves, and the figure displayed in a shop window is usually only a few dirhams per gram above the parity numbers in our table. Because the dirham does not float, any change you see on the board reflects gold itself, which the intraday chart above tracks.
The Gold Souk in Deira
The Dubai Gold Souk sits in Deira, on the north side of Dubai Creek, a short walk from the Spice Souk and the abra (water taxi) stations. Its covered lanes hold hundreds of shops, from family jewellers who have traded there for decades to branches of large chains, and window displays range from simple chains to elaborate bridal sets. Next to it are wholesale dealers and workshops supplying shops across the Gulf.
- Arab bridal sets in 21K with large necklaces and matching bracelets.
- South Asian jewellery in 22K, including Kerala, Tamil and Gujarati styles, sold to residents and visitors from India and Pakistan.
- Bars and coins in 24K, from 1 gram up to 1 kilogram and the 10-tola bar.
- 18K and diamond pieces, especially in the chains and in the Gold and Diamond Park on Sheikh Zayed Road.
Making charges and bargaining
In the souk the gold rate is fixed by the board, but the making charge is not. It is usually quoted per gram and varies with the design; machine-made chains carry low charges, while handcrafted or stone-set pieces carry much higher ones. Bargaining on the making charge is expected, particularly for larger purchases, and shops will often lower it more readily than they will discount the gold rate.
Worked example: 21K or 22K for the same necklace
Illustrative only. Suppose the board shows 21K at AED 428.80 per gram and 22K at AED 449.00 per gram, and you negotiate the making charge down to AED 20 per gram for a 30 g necklace.
| Item | Calculation | AED |
|---|---|---|
| 21K gold value | 30 × 428.80 | 12,864.00 |
| Making charge | 30 × 20.00 | 600.00 |
| VAT at 5% | 5% × 13,464.00 | 673.20 |
| 21K total | 14,137.20 | |
| Same weight in 22K, gold value only | 30 × 449.00 | 13,470.00 |
The 22K version costs AED 606 more in gold before making and VAT but contains more pure gold, which matters when you sell. Compare karats with the karat purity calculator.
Tourist VAT refund
Visitors can reclaim VAT on eligible purchases from shops in the tourist refund scheme. The shop issues a tax-free tag on the invoice, you validate it at the airport before departure, and the refund is paid after a processing fee. Investment bars of 99% purity or more are zero-rated, so there is no VAT to reclaim on them.
Tips for buying in Dubai
- Check the live rate before you go, and compare the shop's board figure for the karat you want.
- Ask the making charge per gram before the piece is weighed, and negotiate it.
- Watch the piece being weighed and make sure the invoice shows karat, weight, rate, making and VAT.
- Visit two or three shops for similar designs; many offer the same items.
- Check your home country's customs allowance for gold before buying a large amount.