Zakat on Gold in the UAE: Nisab Today, How to Calculate and Jewellery Rules
Quick answer: Zakat on gold is 2.5% of its value, due once a lunar year when you own at least 85 grams of pure gold, the nisab. At today's world market price of AED 472.04 per gram for 24K gold (Sunday, 25 October 2026), the gold nisab of 85 grams is worth about AED 40,123. Zakat at 2.5% on gold worth exactly that amount would be about AED 1,003.
Gold Price in UAE Today (AED per gram)
| Karat | Purity | Per Gram (AED) | Per Tola (AED) | Per 10g (AED) | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 472.04 | 5,505.78 | 4,720.40 | Investment / Bars |
| 22K | 91.6% | 432.72 | 5,047.16 | 4,327.20 | Jewellery (most popular) |
| 21K | 87.5% | 413.04 | 4,817.62 | 4,130.40 | Traditional Jewellery |
| 20K | 83.3% | 393.36 | 4,588.07 | 3,933.60 | Jewellery |
| 18K | 75.0% | 354.03 | 4,129.34 | 3,540.30 | Designer / Affordable |
GoldRateUAE explains zakat on gold in the UAE with the live gold price, so the nisab and your zakat figure reflect today’s market rather than an old table. The price above is the world market rate per gram, which most scholars use to value zakatable gold.
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Gold and silver have always been among the main zakatable assets, and many UAE families hold much of their wealth in gold jewellery and coins.
What Is the Nisab for Gold?
The nisab for gold is 85 grams of pure gold. If you own that amount or more for a full lunar year, called the hawl, zakat is due on it.
Because the nisab is measured in pure gold, you need more grams of lower karats to reach it. The table shows the weight of each karat that contains 85 grams of pure gold.
| Karat | Gold content | Weight that equals the nisab |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 85 grams |
| 22K | 91.6% | About 92.7 grams |
| 21K | 87.5% | About 97.1 grams |
| 18K | 75% | About 113.3 grams |
How Do You Calculate Zakat on Gold?
Work out the pure gold content of everything you own, value it at today’s price, and pay 2.5% of that value. Most scholars value gold at its current market value by weight and purity, without the original making charges or stones.
For example, a family with 150 grams of 22K jewellery holds about 137.5 grams of pure gold, which is above the nisab. At an illustrative AED 490 per gram of 24K, that gold is worth about AED 67,375, so zakat would be about AED 1,684.
Use the 24K rate in the live table on the date your zakat is due. Our 24K gold rate in UAE page shows the value of common weights.
Is Zakat Due on Gold Jewellery You Wear?
Scholars differ on this question. The Hanafi school holds that zakat is due on all gold, including jewellery worn every day, once the nisab is reached.
The Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali schools generally hold that jewellery worn for normal personal adornment is exempt. Gold kept as savings, coins, bars and jewellery stored rather than worn is zakatable in all four schools.
Many scholars describe paying zakat on worn jewellery as the more cautious choice. Follow the school or scholar you normally rely on, and ask a qualified scholar if your situation is unclear.
Do Gold Bars, Coins and Gold Savings Plans Count?
Yes. Gold bars, coins and gold held in savings or investment accounts are zakatable, because they are kept as wealth rather than worn.
Digital gold and gold savings schemes hold gold on your behalf, so their gold balance counts too. Gold exchange traded funds and gold company shares are treated differently by different scholars, so ask about those holdings specifically.
If your gold is in 22K jewellery, the 22K gold rate in UAE page shows the value by weight, and our 22K vs 24K comparison explains the purity difference.
When Is Zakat on Gold Due?
Zakat is due once a lunar year, counted from the day your total gold first reached the nisab. Many people choose a fixed date each year, often in Ramadan, and calculate everything they own on that day.
The lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the calendar year. If you use a Gregorian date for convenience, some scholars recommend a slightly higher rate of about 2.577% to make up the difference.
Where Can You Pay Zakat in the UAE?
The UAE Zakat Fund, a federal body, collects and distributes zakat and offers an online calculator. Islamic banks such as Emirates Islamic also offer zakat calculators and payment options.
Registered UAE charities collect zakat as well. Choose an official or licensed body so your zakat reaches eligible recipients.
What If You Own Gold and Silver Together?
Silver has its own nisab of 595 grams. If you own both metals, the Hanafi school adds their values together and compares the total with the lower of the two nisab values, which is usually the silver nisab.
That means a person whose gold alone is below 85 grams can still owe zakat if gold, silver and cash together pass the silver nisab. Other schools treat each metal separately, so check with the scholar you follow.
Common Zakat on Gold Mistakes
1. Using the purchase price instead of today’s market value.
2. Including making charges and stones in the zakatable value.
3. Counting gross weight instead of the pure gold content by karat.
4. Forgetting gold held for children or kept in a locker.
5. Missing the yearly date and paying late without recalculating.
Gold that belongs to a child is the child’s wealth. Many scholars say the guardian should pay zakat on it from the child’s own assets if it reaches the nisab.
A Worked Example With Mixed Karats
A household owns 60 grams of 22K jewellery, 40 grams of 21K jewellery and one 10 gram 24K coin. That is about 55 grams, 35 grams and 10 grams of pure gold, or 100 grams in total.
At an illustrative AED 490 per gram of 24K, the pure gold is worth AED 49,000, so zakat at 2.5% is AED 1,225. Replace the rate with the live figure on your zakat date.
To value gold weighed in tola, use our tola to gram conversion guide. For past prices on an earlier zakat date, see the gold rate history for Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the zakat nisab for gold in AED today?
The nisab is 85 grams of pure gold, and the live sentence at the top of this page shows its value in dirhams today. It changes every day with the gold price.
Do I pay zakat on the purchase price or the current value of my gold?
Most scholars use the current market value of the gold content on the day zakat is due. Making charges and stones are not added.
Is zakat due on gold that a wife receives as mahr?
Gold received as mahr belongs to the wife, so it counts toward her own nisab. Whether worn mahr jewellery is zakatable follows the same difference of opinion as other worn jewellery.
How do I combine gold of different karats?
Convert each piece to its pure gold content using its purity, add the totals, and compare the sum with 85 grams. Then value the pure gold at the 24K rate.
Calculating Zakat on Gold in the UAE Each Year
Calculating zakat on gold in the UAE takes a few minutes once a year: weigh your gold, convert it to pure gold, value it at the live rate, and pay 2.5% through an official channel. Keep a simple record so next year’s calculation is quicker.
This page gives general information, not religious rulings or financial advice. Ask a qualified scholar about your own circumstances.
Sources: UAE Zakat Fund, Qatar Charity on calculating zakat on gold and Emirates Islamic zakat calculator.
