Dubai vs India Gold Price Today: Live Comparison in Rupees
Gold starts from the same world spot price in Dubai and in India. What makes Indian gold dearer is tax: India adds a 15% import duty and 3% GST, while the UAE adds 5% VAT that visitors can largely reclaim. The table below turns today’s rates into rupees, and the calculator shows what your own purchase would cost once it lands in India.
Dubai vs India gold price today, per 10 grams
These figures move with the live gold rate and the latest rupee exchange rate. The India rows show import parity, the level Indian prices settle around once duty and GST are added.
| Per 10 grams, today | 24K | 22K |
|---|---|---|
| Metal value (the same worldwide) | ₹1,26,841 | ₹1,16,387 |
| Dubai, with 5% UAE VAT | ₹1,33,183 | ₹1,22,206 |
| Dubai, visitor after the VAT refund | ₹1,27,792 | ₹1,17,260 |
| India, with 15% import duty | ₹1,45,867 | ₹1,33,845 |
| India, with duty and 3% GST | ₹1,50,243 | ₹1,37,860 |
| Extra paid in India vs a Dubai resident | ₹17,060 (12.8%) | ₹15,654 (12.8%) |
| Extra paid in India vs a Dubai visitor | ₹22,451 (17.6%) | ₹20,601 (17.6%) |
Exchange rate used: 1 AED = 26.1348 rupees (1 USD = 95.98 rupees, European Central Bank reference rate of 28 Sep 2026). India rows are import parity; local shop rates can sit slightly above or below it. Making charges are not included here.
How to read the table
- Metal value is today’s world price for 10 grams, converted to rupees. It is the same starting point in both countries.
- Dubai with VAT is what a UAE resident pays for the metal. Making charges come on top.
- Dubai for a visitor assumes the tourist VAT refund returns about 85% of the tax.
- India adds the 15% import duty, then 3% GST at the till.
Why gold costs more in India
Import duty went back up to 15% in May 2026
India cut its gold import duty to 6% in the July 2024 Budget. On 13 May 2026 the government raised it to 15% again, citing pressure on the rupee and the import bill. Every gram sold in India now carries that duty in its price.
The change more than tripled the gap with Dubai. At 6% duty, Indian gold with GST cost about 4% more than Dubai gold with VAT. At 15% it costs about 13% more.
GST on every sale
Indian jewellers charge 3% GST on the whole invoice, making charge included. Buyers in India cannot reclaim it.
The UAE adds less, and gives some back
The UAE charges no import duty on gold and 5% VAT on jewellery. Investment gold, meaning bars and coins of 99% purity or more, is zero rated. Visitors can reclaim most of the VAT on jewellery at the airport, as the tourist VAT refund guide explains.
Indian prices float around parity
Indian shop rates do not sit exactly on import parity. When demand is weak they can trade at a discount, and in the wedding and festival seasons at a premium. Treat the India rows as the centre of that range, not a quote.
Calculate your own landed cost
Enter the weight, karat and the making charge quotes you have from each country. The calculator adds the UAE VAT you keep paying, Indian duty on grams above your allowance and Indian GST, then shows which option is cheaper.
| Dubai price before VAT | — |
| Same price in rupees | — |
| UAE VAT you do not get back | — |
| Indian customs duty | — |
| Landed cost of the Dubai piece | — |
| Same piece bought in India | — |
—
An estimate. The India figure is import parity: today's metal value plus 15% duty, then your making charge and 3% GST on the invoice. Visitors are assumed to get back about 85% of the UAE VAT. Customs assess duty on their own valuation, so treat the result as a guide, not a ruling.
The duty field is preset to the 15% rate in force since 13 May 2026. Change it if the rate changes or if customs apply a different rate to your case.
Who actually saves by buying in Dubai
At today’s tax rates the answer depends on who you are and what you buy. The last column compares the cost of the metal only, before making charges.
| Buyer | UAE tax paid | Indian duty | Metal cost vs buying in India |
|---|---|---|---|
| NRI living abroad over a year, shopping in Dubai as a visitor, inside the 20 g or 40 g allowance | VAT mostly refunded | None | About 15% cheaper in Dubai |
| NRI living in the UAE, inside the allowance | 5% VAT | None | About 11% cheaper in Dubai |
| NRI living in the UAE, grams above the allowance | 5% VAT | 15% | About 2% dearer in Dubai |
| Short trip from India, visitor with the VAT refund | VAT mostly refunded | On all of it, no jewellery allowance | About 2% cheaper in Dubai, before the cost of the trip |
| Bars or coins, eligible passenger | None on investment gold | 15% | About 3% cheaper in Dubai, before dealer premiums |
Making charges can move every row. If your Dubai quote carries a making charge five points lower than the Indian quote, the Dubai piece gains roughly another 5%. If the Indian quote is lower, the saving shrinks by the same amount.
The short trip row assumes duty at 15%. Travellers who are not eligible passengers can be assessed differently, so confirm with customs before buying heavily.
The duty-free allowance in brief
- Women can bring up to 40 grams of gold jewellery duty free. Men and other passengers can bring up to 20 grams.
- The allowance applies to Indian residents and tourists of Indian origin who have lived abroad for more than one year.
- The old rupee value caps went with the Baggage Rules 2026, in force since 2 February 2026. Only the gram limit remains.
- It covers jewellery only. Bars, coins and biscuits attract duty from the first gram.
- Allowances cannot be pooled between family members.
- Eligible passengers returning after at least six months abroad can bring up to 1 kg of gold on payment of duty in convertible foreign currency.
The full rules, the documents to carry and how the red channel works are in our guide to how much gold you can carry from Dubai to India. Confirm the current position with CBIC before you fly.
Karat and hallmark differences
22K is the standard jewellery karat in both markets, stamped 916 for 91.6% gold. India hallmarks it under the BIS scheme with a six character HUID code on each piece. Dubai jewellery carries the karat stamp and an invoice, but no HUID.
That matters when you sell or exchange at home. An Indian jeweller will test a Dubai piece before pricing it, so keep the Dubai invoice with the item. See purity and hallmarks in the UAE for what each stamp means.
21K is common in Dubai and rare in India. If you plan to resell or exchange at home, 22K is easier to price and to sell.
Paying and converting
- Pay in dirhams. If a card terminal offers to charge you in rupees, decline it. Dynamic currency conversion almost always costs more than your bank’s rate.
- Watch the card markup. Indian cards usually add a foreign currency fee. Paying from a UAE account or a low markup card keeps more of the saving.
- Your rate will differ slightly. The table uses the European Central Bank reference rate. Banks and exchange houses quote their own.
A quick decision checklist
- Check that you qualify for the jewellery allowance, or that you are an eligible passenger for anything above it.
- Compare the Dubai quote and an Indian quote for the same weight and karat, with making charges split out.
- Run both through the calculator above.
- Claim the VAT refund at the airport if you are a visitor.
- Declare anything above the allowance at the red channel, with the invoice ready.
For the Dubai side of the purchase, see today’s 22K gold rate in Dubai and our guide to making charges. The same rates in rupees per gram and per tola are on the Dubai gold rate in rupees page.
Frequently asked questions
Is gold cheaper in Dubai than in India today?
On the metal, yes for most buyers. With India’s 15% duty in force since May 2026, Indian gold with GST costs about 13% more than Dubai gold with VAT. The live table above shows today’s figures in rupees.
How much cheaper is 22K gold in Dubai than in India?
For 10 grams, the rupee difference is shown live in the table. Inside the jewellery allowance it works out at about 11% of the Indian price for a UAE resident, and about 15% for a visitor who reclaims the VAT.
Why did the gap widen in 2026?
India raised its import duty on gold from 6% to 15% on 13 May 2026. UAE taxes on gold did not change, so the difference grew.
Do I pay duty on gold jewellery bought in Dubai?
Not within the 20 g or 40 g allowance, if you have lived abroad for more than a year. Above it, and on bars and coins, duty applies.
Is it worth buying gold in Dubai on a short trip from India?
Usually only slightly. Short trip travellers do not get the jewellery allowance, so duty on arrival removes most of the tax advantage. Lower making charges are the main remaining gain.
Which exchange rate does this page use?
The European Central Bank reference rate for the US dollar against the rupee, checked several times a day. The dirham is pegged at 3.6725 to the dollar, so the rupee rate follows directly. Sources are listed on our data sources page.