Walk into any gold souk in Dubai and you'll see the 5% VAT line itemised separately on your receipt — except you won't, because most retail jewellery attracts the standard rate. Investment-grade bullion is a different story entirely.
Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. (8) of 2017 on Value Added Tax, the supply of investment gold, silver and platinum is zero-rated. For gold, this means any bar, wafer or coin that is at least 99% pure and recognised by the LBMA. Silver qualifies at 99% purity for bullion bars and LBMA-recognised coins. Platinum qualifies at 99% purity. Anything below these thresholds, or anything classed as jewellery, decorative items, or numismatic collector pieces, attracts the full 5% VAT.
For UAE-based investors, this is one of the most tax-efficient precious metals regimes in the world. You buy at live spot, store at IBV International Vaults, and exit tax-free on a future sale. There is no capital gains tax in the UAE on personal investment gains, and no inheritance tax on physical bullion held by UAE-resident individuals. Compared to most Western jurisdictions, the total tax drag on a 10-year hold can be the difference between a strong return and an excellent one.
The practical implications matter at the till. IBV Gold FZCO, registered with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and operating out of Almas Tower (JLT) and Gold & Diamond Park (Al Quoz), invoices qualifying products AED-net-of-VAT — the price you see is what you pay. Receipts itemise the metal weight, purity, and the explicit zero-rated VAT line, in line with UAE Federal Tax Authority guidance.
If you're buying bullion for the first time in the UAE, our walk-in studios in JLT and Al Quoz make it easy to verify authenticity on the spot and complete the transaction in AED with same-day settlement. Insured door-to-door delivery is also available across the UAE for orders placed online at ibvgold.ae.
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