Gold Making Charges in the UAE
The making charge is the labour a jeweller adds on top of the metal value. It is the single biggest reason two shops quote different prices for similar-looking pieces, the gold itself follows one national benchmark.
How it’s charged
- Per gram, a fixed AED amount per gram of gold.
- Percentage, a % of the metal value.
- Flat fee, a set price for the whole piece.
What drives it up
Machine-made, mass-produced 22K jewellery carries the lowest making charge. Hand-finished work, intricate designs and stone-set pieces cost more to make, so they carry more. Branded showroom pieces add a premium for the brand and buyback guarantee.
Comparing fairly
Ask for the metal value and making charge separately, then compare the making charge across shops, not the bundled total. In Dubai’s Gold Souk making charges are negotiable, especially on larger buys. Use the fair-quote checker.
FAQ
What is a normal making charge on gold in the UAE?
There is no fixed rate, it varies by design and shop. Machine-made 22K is lowest; hand-made and stone-set are higher.
Can I negotiate making charges?
In the souk, usually yes. Branded mall showrooms are typically fixed.
Put a number on the making charge
The table below applies three making-charge levels to one purchase. Everything is calculated from today’s live rate. The spread shows what the charge is actually costing you.
The figures below are for 10 grams of 22K at today's rate, where the gold itself is worth AED 4,699.08. The metal price is identical in every emirate, so the entire gap comes from the making charge.
| Making-charge level | Rate | Making charge | VAT 5% | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Souk, plain machine-made | 8% | 375.93 | 253.75 | 5,328.76 |
| Typical retail | 15% | 704.86 | 270.20 | 5,674.14 |
| Branded or intricate | 25% | 1,174.77 | 293.69 | 6,167.55 |
The gap between the cheapest and dearest scenario on the same piece is AED 838.79, about 16%. That is the amount you are actually negotiating over in Dubai.
Main gold markets in Dubai: Deira Gold Souk, Meena Bazaar, Gold & Diamond Park. Levels realistically reachable there: Souk level upward.
The making-charge levels above are illustrative comparison points, not verified quotes from named shops. The metal value and VAT are calculated from the live rate. The verified premium index below is what we publish only once enough real quotes exist.
Test your own quote
Enter the weight and charge you were quoted in the making charge calculator. It separates metal value from labour instantly. Compare that against the levels above.
For the full till price including VAT, use the gold calculator. Both tools read the same live benchmark. Neither adds any markup of its own.
Where the charge is negotiable
Souk shops sitting side by side compete hard on labour fees. Mall showrooms generally hold fixed prices. Larger purchases give you more room either way.
Compare markets across the emirates on the Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi pages. The metal price is identical in all three. Only the labour fee moves.