Gold Rate Today in the UAE
The live table shows today's gold rate in the UAE in dirhams per gram for 24K, 22K, 21K and 18K, plus 10-gram, tola and 10-tola bar prices. It is the international price converted at the fixed dirham rate; shops add a small premium, a making charge per gram, and 5% VAT on jewellery.
Live gold rate in the UAE (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 |
| 24K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 22K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 24K gold · 1 tola | live |
| 24K gold · 10 tola bar | live |
| 24K gold · 1 troy ounce | live |
International parity from XAUUSD × USD/AED (the dirham is pegged at 3.6725 per dollar). Retail rates add a small premium; making charges and 5% VAT on jewellery are extra. How we calculate
How the UAE gold rate is formed
The UAE dirham has been pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725 for decades, so the local gold price is the dollar price multiplied by a constant. If gold rises 1% in dollars, it rises 1% in dirhams, with no currency effect. Retailers follow a daily rate board for 24K, 22K, 21K and 18K per gram, set by the trade from the international price plus a small margin and updated during the day when the market moves. Dubai is also one of the world's largest physical gold trading hubs, with refiners and bullion traders handling gold from Africa, Asia and Europe, which keeps local premiums low.
Which karat to buy
| Karat | Gold content | Who buys it |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | Bars and coins for investment, including the 10-tola bar |
| 22K | 91.6% | Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi buyers, wedding jewellery |
| 21K | 87.5% | Emirati and Arab buyers; the traditional Gulf standard |
| 18K | 75% | Diamond and designer jewellery, European styles |
The 10-tola bar (116.64 g) is a Gulf favourite because it matches the South Asian unit, and many expatriates buy it to take home. See our 21K and 22K price pages for more on each purity.
VAT and the tourist refund
- Jewellery: 5% VAT applies to the selling price, including the making charge.
- Investment gold: bars, ingots and coins of 99% purity or more that are traded at or near the market price are zero-rated, so no VAT is added.
- Tourists: visitors can reclaim VAT on eligible purchases from retailers that are part of the tourist refund scheme, after validating the purchase when leaving the country; a processing fee is deducted. Ask the shop which part of a jewellery purchase is refundable and to issue a tax-free tag.
Worked example
Illustrative numbers only. Suppose the 22K rate is AED 449.00 per gram, the 24K rate is AED 490.00 per gram, and the jeweller charges AED 15 per gram for making.
| Item | Calculation | AED |
|---|---|---|
| 22K bangle, 20 g | 20 × 449.00 | 8,980.00 |
| Making charge | 20 × 15.00 | 300.00 |
| VAT at 5% | 5% × 9,280.00 | 464.00 |
| Bangle total | 9,744.00 | |
| 10-tola 24K bar (116.638 g) | 116.638 × 490.00, zero-rated | 57,152.62 |
Bars also carry a small premium over the gold rate, depending on the brand and size. Plug in the live rate with the jewellery price calculator.
Where to buy in the UAE
The best-known market is the Dubai Gold Souk in Deira, with hundreds of shops along covered lanes. Dubai also has the Gold and Diamond Park on Sheikh Zayed Road and large jewellery chains in every major mall. Sharjah's Central Souq, with its blue-tiled facades, is a long-established alternative, and Abu Dhabi has jewellery centres in the city and its malls. Prices per gram are similar everywhere because all shops follow the same rate board; making charges and designs make the difference.
Taking gold home
The UAE does not restrict taking jewellery out of the country, but your home country's customs rules apply when you arrive. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries set duty-free allowances and duties on gold carried by passengers, and these change; check before you fly and keep the invoice to show customs.
Checklist
- Compare the shop's rate board with the parity table above; a gap of a few dirhams per gram is normal.
- Agree the making charge per gram before the item is weighed.
- Get an invoice showing karat, weight, rate, making charge and VAT.
- For bars, check the refiner's stamp, purity and serial number.
- Ask for the tax-free tag if you are a tourist.