10g Emirates Gold Bar

Emirates Gold: Dubai's Local Refiner

The 10g Emirates Gold gold bar comes from one of the largest precious metals refineries in the Middle East. Emirates Gold DMCC was established in 1992 by Mohamed Sharkachi and operates from Dubai, producing gold bars across a range of metric weights from 1 gram up to 1 troy ounce and beyond. The refinery was acquired by Bright East Holding 1 (an Abu Dhabi Global Market entity) in September 2024 following the founder's death.

This is a 999.9 fine gold bar stamped with the Emirates Gold logo, weight, purity, and individual serial number. The bar is sealed in protective packaging for tamper evidence. At 10 grams, it occupies a popular weight category in the Gulf and South Asian gold markets, where metric gold bars are standard savings vehicles. Banks, jewellers, and gold dealers across the UAE carry Emirates Gold products as a domestic alternative to Swiss-refined bars.

The key distinction between Emirates Gold bars and products from Swiss refiners like PAMP Suisse or Valcambi is recognition outside the Gulf region. Emirates Gold is listed as an LBMA Associate Supplier, a lower tier than full Good Delivery accreditation. This means the bars are recognised within the industry but may not carry the same universal liquidity as bars from full LBMA Good Delivery refiners. Within the Gulf states, however, Emirates Gold bars are well-established and widely traded.

Dubai's zero-VAT environment on investment gold is a significant factor for buyers in the region. The 10g Emirates Gold bar purchased in the UAE incurs no VAT, making it price-competitive against bars from countries where sales tax or import duties apply. For expatriates in the Gulf who intend to hold or eventually export their gold, the zero-VAT purchase combined with Dubai's deep gold trading infrastructure provides a practical advantage.

10g Emirates Gold Bar Details

Production and Format

Emirates Gold does not publicly disclose detailed dimensions and thickness for their retail bar range in the manner that Swiss refiners typically do. The bars carry the company logo alongside weight, fineness markings, and individual serial numbers. The refinery also produces bars in tola weights (1 tola = 11.66 grams), a traditional unit used extensively in South Asian and Gulf gold trading that predates the metric system in these markets.

The company's Die Making and Minting division handles all production in-house, from die creation through striking and packaging. Emirates Gold has significant refining capacity at their Dubai facility, processing gold for the regional market in bars, coins, and themed products including Chinese zodiac series and cultural celebration designs. The 10g bar is one of the standard investment sizes, available alongside 1g, 2.5g, 5g, and 20g options as well as the traditional 1 tola format.

Tax Position for the 10g Emirates Gold Bar

At 999.9 purity, this bar qualifies as investment gold under the tax frameworks of all major bullion markets. The LBMA Associate Supplier status does not affect the tax classification; investment gold is defined by purity and form, not by the refiner's specific LBMA membership tier.

Purchase Tax

• UAE (primary market): 0% VAT on investment gold. Gold bullion is zero-rated under the UAE VAT framework introduced in 2018. Gold jewellery attracts the standard 5% VAT, but investment bars and coins are exempt. This is a major driver of Dubai's gold trade, with the Gold Souk and its surrounding retailers benefiting from tax-free gold sales.
• United Kingdom: VAT-exempt. Investment gold bars of 995+ fineness are zero-rated for VAT purposes. Not CGT-exempt; gold bars are subject to Capital Gains Tax with the annual allowance at 3,000 GBP. Only UK legal tender coins such as Britannias and Sovereigns are CGT-free.
• European Union: VAT-exempt under EU Council Directive 98/80/EC for investment gold bars at 995+ purity.
• United States: No federal sales tax. State-level exemptions vary by state. Capital gains on gold are taxed at the collectibles rate, maximum 28% for long-term holdings.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt at 99.5%+ purity.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold at 99.5%+ purity.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme for gold at 99.5%+ purity from recognised refiners. No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.

Import Considerations

For buyers in India purchasing gold in Dubai to carry home, Indian customs duty on gold currently stands at approximately 6% following the July 2024 reduction from 15%. Returning Indian residents have a limited duty-free gold allowance; amounts above this threshold attract the full duty. This is a common consideration for the large Indian expatriate community in the UAE who buy gold in Dubai during festivals such as Diwali and Dhanteras.

Emirates Gold vs Swiss and Regional Alternatives

The most relevant comparison is against 10g bars from LBMA Good Delivery refiners. A 10g PAMP Suisse Fortuna bar or a 10g Valcambi bar will typically command wider recognition at resale outside the Gulf, because both carry full LBMA Good Delivery accreditation. Emirates Gold's LBMA Associate Supplier status is a different tier, and dealers in Europe or North America may apply a wider buyback spread on Emirates Gold bars compared to Swiss-refined equivalents.

Within the Gulf market, the calculus is different. Emirates Gold bars are widely accepted by Dubai gold dealers, and the local brand carries weight in a region where gold is traded extensively. For buyers who intend to hold and eventually sell within the GCC countries, the recognition difference relative to Swiss bars is minimal.

Against the 10g Istanbul Gold Refinery bar, another regional refiner's product, Emirates Gold has the advantage of Dubai's zero-VAT environment and stronger local distribution. Istanbul Gold Refinery, however, holds full LBMA Good Delivery accreditation, giving its bars greater international acceptance. This is the most important distinction between the two: LBMA Good Delivery bars can be sold to any dealer in the world at standard rates, while Associate Supplier products may face questions or discounts outside their home market.

For buyers in the UAE considering a 10g gold bar purely as a gold investment, a bar from a fully LBMA-accredited refiner will likely offer better liquidity at resale. Emirates Gold bars are best suited for buyers who value local availability, the Dubai purchasing environment, and plan to hold or trade within the Gulf market where the brand is fully established.