Gold investment in the UAE: best options compared

You can invest in gold in the UAE in five ways: bars and coins from a dealer, jewellery, a digital gold account at a bank or app, a gold ETF bought through a broker, or futures and CFDs that track the gold price. For most long-term investors, a physically backed ETF is the cheapest way to hold gold, with annual fees from 0.10% to 0.40%. Digital gold accounts suit small regular purchases from AED 10, and bars suit those who want metal they can hold.

This guide compares the costs, minimums and risks of each option, how VAT applies to gold in the UAE and where to buy each type, so you can pick the one that fits your goal.

In short

• Bars and coins: investment gold of 99% purity or more is zero-rated for VAT. You pay the dealer's premium over the spot price and take care of storage yourself.
• Jewellery: the price includes making charges and 5% VAT, and you usually get back less than you paid when you sell. It works as jewellery, not as an investment.
• Digital gold: banks such as Emirates NBD, Liv, Mashreq and Emirates Islamic and the e& money app let you buy gold in the app, from AED 10 at e& money. Only some offer delivery of physical bars.
• Gold ETFs: funds backed by gold in vaults, such as the iShares Physical Gold ETC (0.12% a year) or SPDR Gold MiniShares (0.10%). You can buy them through Interactive Brokers, Sarwa or eToro.
• Futures and CFDs: for short-term trading. You never own the gold and leverage magnifies losses.

Gold investment options in the UAE compared

^{Costs and minimums as published by each provider, checked on 6 November 2026.}

Physical gold: bars, coins and jewellery

Dubai's gold souks, jewellers and bullion dealers sell bars and coins in sizes from 1 gram. Retail prices follow the rate per gram that the Dubai Jewellery Group publishes for each karat, which you can follow on our gold rate today in the UAE page.

VAT is the biggest difference between bars and jewellery. Under Article 36 of the VAT Executive Regulation, the supply of investment precious metals is zero-rated. That covers gold, silver and platinum with a purity of 99% or more, in a form tradeable in global bullion markets, which includes standard 24-karat bars and coins of that purity.

Jewellery does not meet that test, so the standard 5% VAT applies to the full price, including the making charges that jewellers add for the work on each piece. When you sell jewellery back, shops normally pay only for the gold content, so the making charges and the VAT are lost. That is why jewellery is a poor way to invest, however much you enjoy wearing it.

Bars have their own costs. You pay a premium over the spot price, which is higher in percentage terms on small bars, and you need a safe place to keep them. A bank safe deposit box or insurance for gold kept at home adds to the yearly cost. When you sell, a dealer pays a price below the one it sells at, so check its buy-back rate before you buy.

Digital gold accounts at UAE banks and apps

Several UAE banks and apps let you buy gold in your mobile app, at a price that tracks the gold market. They suit small, regular purchases and you do not have to store anything. The main points from each provider's own documents:

• Emirates NBD gold account (XAU): free to open, with a minimum trade of 0.05 troy ounces (about 1.6 grams). It pays no interest, offers no physical delivery and charges AED 105 if you close it within six months, according to its key facts statement.
• Liv Gold Account: from 0.001 XAU, with no transaction fee but a conversion fee on each trade. You cannot take delivery or move the gold out of Liv, as its help centre explains.
• Mashreq Gold & Silver Edge: from 0.01 troy ounces of gold, opened online by existing Mashreq customers. The price is updated twice a day and the account pays no interest, according to Mashreq.
• Emirates Islamic digital gold: described by the bank as Shariah-compliant, with allocated gold in LBMA and Dubai Good Delivery bars from PAMP and Valcambi held by independent custodians. You can sell for cash or ask for delivery of bars, as set out on its digital gold page.
• e& money gold: 24-karat gold of 99.99% purity from AED 10, through SafeGold Precious Metal DMCC. You can buy up to AED 3,500 per trade and AED 25,000 a day, and ask for delivery of bars from 1 gram. Storage fees start after two years, according to its key facts statement.

None of these providers publishes its buy and sell spread in advance, so compare the buying and selling price in the app before you put in a large amount. An account without physical delivery gives you a claim on the provider, not bars in your name, so read the terms on who holds the gold.

Gold ETFs: the cheapest way to hold gold

A physically backed gold ETF buys gold bars and keeps them with a custodian in a vault. Each share tracks the gold price minus a small annual fee, and you can buy or sell during market hours through a regular brokerage account. There are no storage or insurance costs on your side.

^{Fees from each issuer's website on 6 November 2026.}

The iShares Physical Gold ETC is issued in Ireland and had net assets of about $37.7 billion on 4 November 2026. The US-listed funds trade on NYSE Arca. Gold funds pay no dividends, so dividend withholding tax is not an issue. However, US-listed funds can count as US assets for US estate tax, as we explain in our guide on investing in US stocks from the UAE. The London-listed ETC avoids that question.

Where to buy gold ETFs in the UAE

Interactive Brokers: regulated by the DFSA in the DIFC, with access to both the London and the US gold funds and dirham deposits through First Abu Dhabi Bank. IBKR also offers London spot gold at 0.015% of the trade value (minimum $2) with storage of 0.10% a year, according to its metals pricing page. Read our Interactive Brokers review or open an account with IBKR.

Sarwa: regulated by the FSRA in ADGM. Sarwa Trade lists seven US gold ETFs, including GLD, GLDM and IAU, at $1 or 0.25% per trade (whichever is higher) with a $500 account minimum. New users can get up to AED 3,000 with our Sarwa promo code RLLAA29D, or visit Sarwa.

eToro: regulated by the FSRA through eToro (ME) Limited. ETFs trade with 0% commission (other fees apply), and the same app also offers gold as a CFD. Check the current eToro welcome offer or visit eToro.

For more ETF ideas beyond gold, see the best ETFs to invest in from the UAE.

Gold futures and CFDs

Futures and CFDs let you trade the gold price with leverage, without owning any metal. They suit active traders, not long-term savers, because overnight financing charges add up and leverage magnifies losses as well as gains.

• DGCX: the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange lists a Shariah-compliant spot gold contract of 32 troy ounces (about 1 kilogram), with compulsory delivery of 1 kilogram bars of at least 99.5% purity through the DMCC. The contract is aimed at Islamic funds and investors.
• CFDs: Plus500, licensed by the CMA, showed a spread of $0.44 on gold when we checked on 6 November 2026, and Pepperstone, also CMA-licensed, offers gold CFDs on MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView with swap-free Islamic accounts.

Our guide to the best gold trading platforms in the UAE compares spreads, commissions and leverage for gold traders.

_{CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.}

Shariah-compliant gold

Islamic finance treats gold as a currency-like asset, so a purchase should be settled on the spot and the buyer should own specific gold. Allocated physical gold meets that test most clearly. Emirates Islamic describes its digital gold as Shariah-compliant, and the DGCX spot gold contract is certified by a Shariah board. Swap-free CFD accounts remove overnight interest but still give you no ownership of gold, so check with a scholar you trust before you use them for this purpose.

Taxes and zakat on gold

Individuals in the UAE pay no personal income tax and no capital gains tax, so profits on gold you hold for yourself are not taxed in the UAE. VAT is the only tax to plan for: 0% on investment gold of 99% purity or more and 5% on jewellery. If you pay zakat on your gold, our zakat calculator helps you work out the amount.

Which gold investment fits you?

• Long-term allocation to gold: a low-cost physically backed ETF such as GLDM or the iShares Physical Gold ETC, through Interactive Brokers or Sarwa.
• Small monthly amounts: a digital gold account at your bank or e& money, after you compare the spread.
• Gold you can hold: 24-karat bars or bullion coins from an established dealer, with a plan for storage.
• Short-term trading: CFDs or futures with a CMA or DFSA-licensed broker, using money you can afford to lose.

Gold pays no interest or dividends, so its return comes only from price changes. Many investors keep it to a small part of a portfolio built mainly on shares and bonds.

Bottom line

The cheapest way to invest in gold from the UAE is a physically backed ETF, with annual fees from 0.10% (GLDM) and 0.12% (iShares Physical Gold ETC), bought through Interactive Brokers or Sarwa. Digital gold accounts at UAE banks and e& money work for small amounts from AED 10, and 24-karat bars carry 0% VAT if you want physical gold. Jewellery, with its making charges and 5% VAT, is the most expensive way to own gold.

Frequently asked questions

Is gold a good investment in the UAE?

Many investors hold gold to diversify their portfolio, and investment gold carries no VAT and no capital gains tax for individuals in the UAE. However, it pays no income and its price can drop sharply, so most investors keep it to a minority of their savings.

What is the best way to invest in gold in the UAE?

For most long-term investors, a physically backed gold ETF is the cheapest option, with fees from 0.10% a year and no storage costs. Bars suit those who want physical gold, and digital gold accounts suit small regular purchases.

How can I start investing in gold with a small amount?

e& money sells gold from AED 10 and Liv from 0.001 XAU. With a broker, you can buy fractions of US gold ETFs on Sarwa or eToro.

Is there VAT on gold in the UAE?

Investment gold of 99% purity or more, such as standard 24-karat bars, is zero-rated under Article 36 of the VAT Executive Regulation. Jewellery pays 5% VAT on the full price, including making charges.

Is digital gold safe in the UAE?

Digital gold from UAE banks is offered by institutions licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, but the terms differ. Some providers hold allocated bars and allow delivery, while others only credit gold units to your account. Read who holds the gold and how you can sell before you invest.

Can I buy gold ETFs from the UAE?

Yes. Interactive Brokers gives access to London and US gold ETFs, Sarwa lists seven US gold ETFs and eToro offers ETFs with 0% commission.

How much is 1kg of gold in the UAE?

The price changes several times a day with the gold market. Check the gold rate today page linked above for the current 24-karat rate per gram, then multiply by 1,000 for a 1 kilogram bar before the dealer's premium.