With the recent increase in gold import duty from 6% to 15% in India, jewellery lovers in the UAE are riding the wave of advantage. India’s gold import duty has now reached one of its highest levels in the past 20 years.

NRIs stand to gain as those travelling through the UAE or living there can make the best use of India’s baggage allowance rules. According to the revised rules, NRI women can carry up to 40 grams of gold jewellery duty free into India; men are allowed to carry up to 20 grams.

A family that travels together can easily bring into India around 100 grams or more of gold jewellery, legally, within the duty-free baggage allowance.

Commenting on this, the chairman of Joyalukkas Jewellery, Joy Alukkas, said, “Even after considering VAT in the UAE, the price difference between buying gold jewellery in Dubai and India is now almost 11%. This is a very meaningful saving for Indian families and NRIs. Dubai has always offered purity, transparency, wider choice, and attractive making charges. With the latest duty increase in India and the clarity on baggage allowance, the benefit of buying from Dubai has become much stronger.”

Higher Indian duty, clearer baggage rules, and Dubai’s competitive gold market have created a visible customer response in jewellery showrooms across the UAE. – Image credit: freepik – editor@nrifocus.com