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Selling raw gold and doré bars in the UAE
The UAE is one of the world’s main destinations for mined gold, and Dubai hosts several refineries. For a mine or exporter, the challenge is not finding a buyer: it is finding one with a clear price, reliable refining and compliance strong enough to protect everyone involved.
Who sells raw gold
| Seller | Typical material |
|---|---|
| Industrial and artisanal mining companies | Doré bars, raw gold |
| Licensed exporters | Doré and semi-refined gold |
| Traders | Scrap and semi-refined gold |
Assay, gold refinery process and pricing
- Reception and weighing of the lot, with documentation.
- Sampling and assay. Fire assay determines the exact gold and silver content.
- Refining to investment-grade purity (995 or 999.9).
- Pricing on fine gold content × live rate, minus refining, assay, logistics and handling.
- Settlement, usually by bank transfer.
| Cost element | Usual basis |
|---|---|
| Assay | Per lot |
| Refining | Per kilo or percentage |
| Logistics and insurance | According to route and value |
| Buyer’s margin | Agreed per contract |
Compliance: origin, KYC, AML (OECD guidance)
Responsible sourcing is the condition of every transaction. Due diligence in the UAE follows the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas and the UAE regulations on responsible sourcing of gold.
What buyers and refiners check:
- The supplier: company registration, owners, licences, sanctions screening.
- The origin: mine location, mining licence, production records.
- The route: export permits, transport, customs declarations.
- The risk level: enhanced checks for conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
When a lot is declined
Serious buyers decline transactions when:
- the supplier cannot be identified or refuses to share ownership details;
- the mining licence or export permit is missing, expired or inconsistent;
- the declared origin does not match the documents or the assay profile;
- payment is requested to a third party, or in cash for a large lot;
- the supply chain passes through parties or areas under sanctions.
Logistics and import into the UAE
Raw gold enters the UAE with customs declarations and supporting documents from the country of origin, usually by secure air freight through specialised carriers. The UAE customs declaration and the export documents must match the assay and the contract.
This page is general information; the conditions of each transaction are set by contract after compliance review.
See also wholesale gold suppliers and gold bar brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is a doré bar?
A doré bar is a semi-pure alloy of gold and silver produced at the mine site. Its gold content varies widely and must be assayed before it is refined to investment-grade purity.
What documents are needed to sell raw gold in the UAE?
Typically company documents, a mining or export licence, a certificate of origin, an export permit from the country of origin, customs documents, an assay report and information on the supply chain.
Can raw gold from Africa be sold in Dubai?
Yes, subject to due diligence on origin, legality and supply chain following the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and UAE regulations. Gold from conflict-affected or high-risk areas requires enhanced checks.
How is raw gold priced?
On the fine gold content found by assay, at the live rate, minus refining, assay, logistics and handling costs.
Is there a minimum quantity?
Refiners and buyers set their own minimum lot sizes; ask before shipping.
How many gold refineries are there in Dubai?
Several refineries operate in the UAE, some accredited under the UAE Good Delivery or LBMA Good Delivery standards. Accreditation matters for the acceptance of the refined bars.