Gold & Jewellery Trading in the UAE

Key points

One of the reasons we recommend the UAE is its world's #1 free zone (Fitch), which matters more than most founders realise once the business is running. In practice, popular activities in the UAE include commodity trading, gold & diamond, crypto & fintech, technology and professional services, and most of them can be combined on a single licence. Unlike some zones, the UAE does not require a large paid-up capital to be blocked in a bank account before the licence is released.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   In the first call we check that the UAE lists your activity, settle the licence type and match the visa package and office to what you actually need.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   GoldenKey reserves your trade name with the the UAE authority and obtains initial approval, usually within one to two working days. Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE.

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   For most clients, you sign the application forms and memorandum, we submit the attested paperwork and the licence fee is paid to the authority.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   Once the the UAE licence and company documents are released, we move immediately to the immigration file, residence visas and the bank meeting. Your portal shows the status of this step for starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE in real time.

Documents required

The document list for starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE is short, and most clients already have everything on it.

• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
• A clear passport copy for each shareholder and manager, valid for at least six months
• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa

Pricing

Importantly, the figures below for starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Importantly, all prices for starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before a single dirham changes hands.

Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.

Where to license gold & jewellery trading

DMCC is the global hub for precious metals and operates the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange. Gold traders face enhanced anti-money-laundering rules, including goAML registration and a compliance officer.

DMCC Free ZoneWorld's #1 free zone — the premium choice for commodity tr…Ajman Free ZoneOne of the UAE's most affordable free zones — 0-visa packa…SAIF ZoneSharjah's industrial free zone — warehousing, logistics an…Dubai mainlandThe UAE's commercial capital — trade anywhere in the UAE w…Ajman mainlandGoldenKey's home emirate — one of the most affordable main…

Examples of this activity

• Bullion trading
• Diamond wholesale
• Jewellery retail
• Refinery supply

Gold & Jewellery Trading guides by nationality

IndianPakistaniBritishRussianChineseNigerianSaudiEgyptianKenyanGermanSingaporeanOmaniFrenchItalianSpanishPortugueseDutchBelgianSwissAustrianSwedishNorwegianDanishFinnishIcelandicIrishPolishCzechSlovakHungarianRomanianBulgarianGreekCroatianSerbianSlovenianUkrainianEstonianLatvianLithuanianAmericanCanadianAustralianNew ZealanderJapaneseSouth KoreanTurkishMalaysianIndonesianThaiVietnameseFilipinoBangladeshiSouth AfricanEmiratiQatari

Why the UAE

To be clear, banking, logistics, telecoms and digital government services in the UAE are among the most advanced in the region, which keeps the running costs of starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE predictable. Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE a route to relocation as well as a business decision.

Why GoldenKey

GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. GoldenKey's consultants have handled starting a gold and jewellery trading company in the UAE for traders, consultants, tech founders and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. From day one, after your the UAE licence is released, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice.

Frequently asked questions