Saudi Arabia vs Dubai Gold Price — Which is Cheaper?

In seeking where to get better value for gold — in Riyadh (or Saudi Arabia broadly) or Dubai (UAE) — many buyers and investors consider factors such as purity (carat), daily price, taxes/fees, and making charges. Based on recent data (2025), there are times when gold in Saudi Arabia is cheaper — other times when Dubai may offer advantages. In this article, I walk you through real price comparisons, practical buying tips, and what to watch out for, to help you make a smart decision.

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Recent Data: Price Comparison Between Saudi Arabia and Dubai

Here’s a snapshot of recent retail raw-gold rates per gram (before making charges or jeweller premiums) in Saudi Arabia vs Dubai:

Saudi Arabia (as of May 2025)

• 24K: ≈ SAR 401.01/g
• 22K: ≈ SAR 368.12/g
• 21K: ≈ SAR 350.88/g
• 18K: ≈ SAR 300.75/g

Dubai, UAE (mid-2025 rates)

• 24K: ≈ AED 392.55/g
• 22K: ≈ AED 360.36/g
• 21K: ≈ AED 343.48/g
• 18K: ≈ AED 294.42/g

Note on conversion: As of late 2025 the exchange rate hovers around ~1 AED ≈ 1.02–1.05 SAR (but this fluctuates). Because of currency exchange and market dynamics, direct conversions may vary slightly.

From these numbers, at least in raw-gold terms, Dubai’s AED price per gram (converted to SAR) is often comparable — meaning neither side always “wins” in pure gram-price across all carats.

Real-World Considerations & Hidden Costs — Why It’s Not Just About the Gram Rate

Buying gold is rarely as simple as comparing per-gram prices. Here are important factors I learned through market watching and personal shopping experiences:

• Making charges & retailer premium: When you buy jewellery (not bullion), jewelers charge for craftsmanship, design, and labor. This can add substantially on top of base gold price — often making jewellery more expensive per gram than bullion.
• Purity matters: 24K gold is nearly pure, but jewellery tends to use 22K (or lower) because it’s harder and more durable. So comparing 24K bullion to 22K jewellery without adjusting for purity/making cost can be misleading.
• Currency & exchange fluctuations: Since Dubai trades in AED and Saudi in SAR, exchange-rate changes can shift the relative advantage.
• Taxes, duties, and import costs: While both markets are relatively favorable compared to many global markets, you still may face regional differences in import fees, local regulations, or jeweller mark-ups depending on where you buy.
• Resale/liquidity value: Buying local (in your home country) may make resale easier. If you buy abroad and return home, you may lose on exchange, travel, or resale premiums.

In my experience: once you add making charges and design fees, the “cheaper per gram” advantage often disappears — particularly for jewellery. For pure bullion (bars/coins), you may still see real value differences depending on timing and where you sell.

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When Is It Cheaper — Saudi or Dubai? A Step-by-Step Thought Process

Here’s a simple decision process to figure out where you might get better value:

1. Decide on type — bullion (bars/coins) or jewellery?
2. Check purity — 24K, 22K, or lower carat.
3. Look up daily rate in both markets (in your local currency) — as above.
4. Calculate total cost = (base gram-price × grams) + making/retail charges + exchange/duty (if relevant).
5. Factor resale or personal use — if you plan to wear jewellery, consider making charges and design premiums; if investing, consider resale/melting value.
6. Consider convenience & legality — buying where you reside avoids border/import complications.

Using this method recently (mid-2025), for raw bullion of 24K: Dubai’s AED 392.55/g converts roughly to SAR ~401–410/g, which is quite similar to Saudi’s ~SAR 401/g — so cost advantage is marginal at best.

But for jewellery (22K, design pieces), once you add making charges, Saudi may often be slightly more convenient and competitively priced — especially because you avoid currency conversion and travel costs.

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Practical Tips & My Personal Experience

From my own buying experience and chatting with gold-shop owners and buyers in both Saudi and UAE, here are some tips:

• Always ask for a breakdown invoice: separate the “gold weight” from “making charges/commission.” This helps you know exactly what you pay for, and gives transparency if you want to resell.
• Compare bullion vs jewellery: If you aim to invest/hold value, consider pure bullion (bars/coins) rather than ornate jewellery — fewer premiums, easier resale or storage.
• Monitor global gold price and exchange rate — Global gold price and currency changes often affect both markets. Buying during dips (or when SAR–AED exchange is favorable) can save money.
• Be mindful of purity and resale — 24K is ideal for resale/investment; jewellery often uses 22K or less, which may reduce resale value or require refining.
• Buy locally if possible — As a resident of Riyadh, buying in Saudi avoids travel, currency exchange, and customs issues — often worth the small price difference.

My own rule of thumb now: If I buy for investment, I buy 24K bullion in Riyadh; if I shop jewellery — I buy based on design, not purely price — because making charges and style matter more than small gram-price differences.

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FAQs

Is gold in Saudi Arabia cheaper?

Sometimes. As of mid-2025, Saudi 24K raw-gold is about SAR 401/g . Compared to Dubai’s 24K price converted to SAR (slightly above or similar), the difference is often small — so Saudi can be as cheap or cheaper, especially considering you avoid currency exchange or import complications.

Which Arab country is best to buy gold?

There’s no fixed “best” — it depends on what you want (bullion vs jewellery), purity, making charges, and where you reside. For Gulf-region residents, buying locally (Saudi, UAE) tends to be cost-effective because of low taxes/duties and competitive markets.

Are Saudi gold and Dubai gold the same?

In terms of gold purity (e.g. 24K or 22K), yes — gold is gold. The difference lies mainly in local pricing, making charges, currency, design (jewellery), and retailer markup.

Which country's gold is the cheapest?

There’s no consistent “cheapest country.” Prices fluctuate daily based on global gold rates, exchange rates, local demand/supply, and retailer mark-up. Among Gulf countries (Saudi, UAE, etc.), differences are small, and advantage depends on timing and additional charges.

How much is 1 gram gold in Saudi Arabia?

As of May 2025, 1 gram of 24K gold was around SAR 401.01/g.

In which city is gold the cheapest?

There isn’t a single city that’s always cheapest — even within a country, gold prices can vary with jeweller margins, making charges, and demand. In Gulf countries, many cities have competitive gold markets; often, what matters more is the shop and clarity of pricing than the city itself.

Is Saudi gold high quality?

Yes — Saudi gold (especially 24K bullion) is high quality. Purity is determined by carat (24K = ~99.9% pure). What matters is ensuring you get proper hallmarking and a transparent invoice (gold weight vs making charges).