City of Gold

Dubai is known as the City of Gold. It is the world's largest re-exporter of gold. Gold is available in 18, 21, 22, or 24 carats. A stroll through the Gold Souq or the gold section of a mall with hundreds of shops selling gold of every conceivable design is a memorable and often overwhelming experience even if you're not buying.


There are no prices on the gold goods. The prices are set according to weight and the international trading price of gold but there is wiggle room in the design and workmanship and haggling is expected.


While Westerners do more looking than buying, Indians and Emiraties are definitely buying and buying a lot. The Indians need it for their daughters' dowries and also if they have the means, tend to stockpile gold as their investment of choice.


gold cuffs for wrists and ankles


The Emiraties buy it to present as a gift to a future bride. Not one piece, but a hundred pounds of it as a gift from the groom's family to drape over the body of the bride who will join the family. She will be weighed down with gold. Yes, armed guards attend the wedding celebrations, guarding not just the gold, but the sapphires, rubies, pearls and diamonds too. No fake stuff for Emiraties! And the more the better.


Deep yellow gold is still preferred in this region where historically it glowed richer by firelight. Westerners prefer lighter coloured gold and the darker gold tends to look cheaper to us but it is actually a purer gold than we are accustomed to.

literally weighed down with gold

While Westerners might buy a bobble, the Indians, Emiraties and other middle Easterners are doing serious business.