Dubai gold rate today
Today's 24K, 22K, 21K and 18K gold rates in Dubai, in dirhams per gram, updated every morning.
What changed
22K rose by AED 2.37 a gram since the last reading, a move of 0.56%.
History
| Date | 24K gold | 22K gold | 21K gold | 18K gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov | 462.87 | 424.41 | 405.41 | 347.5 |
| 2 Nov | 460.29 | 422.04 | 403.15 | 345.56 |
| 1 Nov | 457.24 | 419.25 | 400.49 | 343.28 |
| 31 Oct | 457.47 | 419.46 | 400.68 | 343.44 |
| 30 Oct | 471.23 | 432.08 | 412.74 | 353.78 |
| 29 Oct | 475.92 | 436.38 | 416.85 | 357.3 |
| 28 Oct | 476.07 | 436.52 | 416.98 | 357.41 |
| 27 Oct | 472.57 | 433.3 | 413.91 | 354.78 |
| 26 Oct | 473.83 | 434.46 | 415.01 | 355.73 |
| 25 Oct | 471.46 | 432.29 | 412.94 | 353.95 |
| 24 Oct | 471.46 | 432.29 | 412.94 | 353.95 |
| 23 Oct | 472.67 | 433.4 | 414 | 354.86 |
| 22 Oct | 482.76 | 442.65 | 422.83 | 362.43 |
| 21 Oct | 485.47 | 445.14 | 425.21 | 364.47 |
| 20 Oct | 488.24 | 447.68 | 427.64 | 366.55 |
| 19 Oct | 492.24 | 451.34 | 431.14 | 369.55 |
| 18 Oct | 490.11 | 449.39 | 429.27 | 367.95 |
| 17 Oct | 490.63 | 449.87 | 429.73 | 368.34 |
| 16 Oct | 491.84 | 450.98 | 430.79 | 369.25 |
| 15 Oct | 488.61 | 448.02 | 427.97 | 366.83 |
| 14 Oct | 491.43 | 450.6 | 430.43 | 368.94 |
| 13 Oct | 494.51 | 453.42 | 433.13 | 371.25 |
| 12 Oct | 494.3 | 453.23 | 432.94 | 371.09 |
| 11 Oct | 493.3 | 452.31 | 432.07 | 370.34 |
| 10 Oct | 493.34 | 452.36 | 432.11 | 370.38 |
| 9 Oct | 492.36 | 451.45 | 431.24 | 369.64 |
| 8 Oct | 487.7 | 447.18 | 427.16 | 366.14 |
| 7 Oct | 488.24 | 447.68 | 427.64 | 366.55 |
| 6 Oct | 486.3 | 445.89 | 425.93 | 365.09 |
| 5 Oct | 487.59 | 447.08 | 427.07 | 366.06 |
| 4 Oct | 488.55 | 447.96 | 427.91 | 366.78 |
| 3 Oct | 488.55 | 447.96 | 427.91 | 366.78 |
| 2 Oct | 493.79 | 452.76 | 432.49 | 370.71 |
| 1 Oct | 493.1 | 452.13 | 431.9 | 370.2 |
| 30 Sept | 493.08 | 452.11 | 431.87 | 370.18 |
| 29 Sept | 487.42 | 446.92 | 426.92 | 365.93 |
What this rate is
This is the market price of the metal, in dirhams per gram, taken each morning at 9am Dubai time. It follows the international spot price: the dirham is pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725, so gold in Dubai moves with gold everywhere. Each karat is a fixed fraction of pure gold — 22K is 91.6%, 21K is 87.5%, 18K is 75%.
Why a shop will quote you more
A jeweller's price is this rate plus making charges, which pay for the design and the craftsmanship. They vary by piece, by shop, and by how intricate the work is — small on a plain chain, substantial on an elaborate set.
Ask for the gold rate and the making charge separately. Every reputable shop in the Gold Souk or Deira will give you both, and it is the only way to compare two prices honestly.
Selling works the other way: you are generally paid the gold rate for the weight, with the making charge gone. That is why a piece is worth less the day after you buy it, whatever the market has done.
Which karat to buy
22K is what most Dubai jewellery is, and what the rate above leads with — soft enough to work, pure enough to hold its value.
24K is for bars and coins rather than anything you wear; at 99.9% it is too soft and bends out of shape.
21K is common across the Gulf and slightly harder wearing than 22K.
18K is harder still and grips stones better, which is why it turns up in design-heavy and diamond pieces.
When the rate moves
Gold trades around the clock on weekdays. The rate here is taken once each morning, so over a weekend it shows Friday's number — the last one the market set.
Tax on gold in Dubai, and what tourists get back
Gold jewellery in the UAE carries 5% VAT, and it applies to the whole invoice — the metal and the making charges together, not just the labour. A quoted "price per gram" is normally before VAT, so check whether the figure you are shown is inclusive.
Investment-grade bullion is treated differently: bars, ingots and coins of 99% purity or higher that trade on global bullion markets can be zero-rated, but only between VAT-registered businesses. A retail purchase over the counter does not qualify, whatever the purity.
If you are visiting, you can reclaim most of that VAT. The UAE's Tourist Refund Scheme is operated by Planet on behalf of the Federal Tax Authority, and the official terms are:
- Minimum spend of AED 250 at a participating retailer
- You get back 85% of the VAT paid, less a fee of AED 4.80 per tax-free tag
- You must be 18 or over and validate the transaction at the airport within 90 days of purchase
- The goods must leave with you — anything consumed in the UAE is excluded
So on a AED 10,000 purchase the VAT is AED 500, and a departing tourist recovers roughly AED 420 of it. Ask for the tax-free tag at the till; it cannot be added afterwards.
Zero-rated investment gold is not refundable, for the straightforward reason that no VAT was charged on it.
Is gold actually cheaper in Dubai?
The metal is not. Gold is a globally traded commodity and a gram of it costs the same in Dubai as anywhere else once you convert currencies — that is what the rate at the top of this page is.
What differs is everything around it:
- Tax. The UAE charges 5% VAT, and a departing tourist reclaims 85% of it. Buyers in most countries pay import duty and local sales tax with nothing to reclaim.
- Making charges. Competition in Deira is fierce and labour costs are low, so making charges are typically thinner than in Europe or North America — and they are negotiable, which is not true everywhere.
- Choice. The practical advantage is range rather than price: hundreds of shops within a few streets, all quoting off the same metal rate.
The honest summary is that Dubai is usually cheaper for a tourist buying jewellery, that the saving comes from tax and making charges rather than the gold, and that it is smaller than the marketing suggests.
FAQs
What is the gold rate in Dubai today?
Today's 24K, 22K, 21K and 18K rates in dirhams per gram are at the top of this page, refreshed every morning at 9am Dubai time. That figure is the market price of the metal itself — a jeweller's price is this rate plus making charges, plus 5% VAT.
Why does a jeweller quote more than the gold rate?
Because the shop price is the metal rate plus making charges, which pay for design and craftsmanship, plus 5% VAT on the total. Making charges are small on a plain chain and substantial on an intricate set. Always ask for the rate and the making charge separately — it is the only way to compare two shops honestly, and every reputable shop will give you both.
Is there tax on gold in Dubai?
Yes, 5% VAT on gold jewellery, charged on the full invoice including making charges rather than on the labour alone. Investment-grade bullion of 99% purity or higher can be zero-rated, but only in transactions between VAT-registered businesses — a retail purchase does not qualify.
Can tourists claim VAT back on gold in Dubai?
Yes, on jewellery that carried VAT. The scheme is run by Planet for the Federal Tax Authority: spend at least AED 250 at a participating retailer, be 18 or over, and validate at the airport within 90 days of purchase. You receive 85% of the VAT paid, less AED 4.80 per tax-free tag. Ask for the tag at the till — it cannot be issued later.
Is gold cheaper in Dubai than in India?
The metal is not — gold is globally priced and a gram costs the same everywhere once currencies are converted. The saving comes from tax and making charges: Indian buyers pay import duty and GST with nothing to reclaim, while a tourist in Dubai pays 5% VAT and recovers 85% of it on departure. Making charges also tend to be lower and are negotiable.
Should I buy 22K or 24K gold in Dubai?
22K for anything you wear. At 91.6% purity it is soft enough to work and pure enough to hold value, and it is what most Dubai jewellery is. 24K is 99.9% pure and too soft to keep its shape, so it belongs in bars and coins rather than jewellery. 21K is common across the Gulf and slightly harder wearing; 18K is harder still and grips stones better, which is why diamond pieces use it.
How much will I get if I sell gold in Dubai?
Broadly the gold rate for the weight and karat, with the making charge gone. That is why a piece is worth noticeably less the day after you buy it regardless of what the market has done — you paid for craftsmanship, and craftsmanship has no resale value by weight. Shops may also apply a small deduction for testing and refining.
When does the Dubai gold rate change?
Continuously on weekdays, because gold trades around the clock on international markets. This page takes one reading each weekday morning at 9am Dubai time, so across a weekend it shows Friday's figure — the last one the market actually set. The history table above records every reading.
Why does gold in Dubai move with the international price?
Because the dirham is pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725 and gold is priced in dollars. With the currency link fixed, the dirham price of gold moves one-for-one with the dollar price. There is no local pricing committee and no Dubai-specific rate.
Where is the Dubai Gold Souk?
In Deira, on the north side of Dubai Creek, and it is the traditional place to compare a lot of shops quickly. Every shop there works off the same market rate, so the negotiation is over making charges, not over the gold. The malls sell the same metal at the same rate with fixed making charges and less haggling.
Sources and method. UAE Government — VAT refund for tourists · Federal Tax Authority Tourist Refund Scheme, operated by Planet · Spot gold via international markets, converted at the pegged rate of AED 3.6725 per USD
