Top Gold Refineries in UAE (Dubai & Sharjah) – 2026 Guide
Gold Refineries in UAE: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly Dubai, stands as one of the world’s premier gold refining and trading hubs, processing billions in precious metals annually.
Gold refineries in UAE handle a wide range of materials, including dore bars from mines, scrap gold from jewelry and electronics, bullion, and recycled metals.
With strategic location advantages, tax-free zones, and stringent regulations, the UAE attracts investors, bullion traders, exporters, and international buyers seeking high-purity gold products.
Notably, several UAE refineries hold LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) accreditation, ensuring global acceptance and trust in their bars for international trade.
This 2026 guide explores the top refineries, their capacities, accreditations, and the ecosystem that makes UAE gold a benchmark for quality and reliability.
As global demand for gold surges amid economic uncertainties, the UAE’s role has expanded. In 2025 alone, the country imported over 748 tonnes of gold from Africa, underscoring its position as a key refining destination for raw materials from emerging markets.
Whether you’re an investor looking for LBMA-approved bars or a trader exporting refined products, understanding UAE’s gold refineries is essential for informed decisions.
List of Major Gold Refineries in UAE
The UAE boasts over 600 gold refineries, with many concentrated in Dubai and Sharjah. However, the major players dominate the market due to their scale, technology, and international accreditations. Below is a detailed overview of key refineries, focusing on those with significant capacity and global recognition.
These facilities process everything from small-scale scrap to large mining outputs, producing high-purity gold bars, coins, and custom products.
Emirates Gold DMCC
- Location: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai
- Year Established: 1992
- Annual Refining Capacity: Approximately 200 tonnes of gold
- Accreditations: LBMA Good Delivery (though subject to periodic reviews), UAE Good Delivery (UAEGD), ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, Dubai Good Delivery (DGD)
- Products: Gold bars (1g to 1kg, 995 and 999.9 purity), minted coins, silver bars, recycling services
Emirates Gold is one of the pioneers in UAE’s gold industry, known for its advanced refining techniques and commitment to sustainability.
As a UAEGD-certified refinery, it ensures bars meet international standards for weight, purity, and responsible sourcing. The facility handles dore from global sources and offers custom minting for corporate clients.
In recent years, it has expanded to refine over 200 tonnes annually, making it a go-to for bullion traders exporting to Europe and Asia.
Al Etihad Gold Refinery DMCC
- Location: DMCC, Dubai
- Year Established: 2009
- Annual Refining Capacity: Approximately 200 tonnes of gold
- Accreditations: LBMA Good Delivery, UAEGD, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety), ISO 14001:2015, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) Code of Practices
- Products: Gold bars (100g to 12.5kg, 995 to 999.9 purity), silver refining, assaying, custom coins, jewelry-grade gold
- Official Website: www.aletihadgold.com
Al Etihad stands out for its dual expertise in gold and silver refining, using wet chemical chlorination and electric furnace methods for high-purity output. Its LBMA accreditation makes it a trusted choice for international buyers, with bars accepted on global exchanges like COMEX.
The refinery emphasizes responsible sourcing, aligning with OECD guidelines, and has invested in state-of-the-art assaying labs for precise quality testing.
Kaloti Precious Metals
- Location: DMCC, Dubai
- Year Established: 1988
- Annual Refining Capacity: Over 150 tonnes (estimated based on operations)
- Accreditations: DGD (though not currently LBMA), ISO 9001, DMCC compliance
- Products: Gold bars, coins, silver products, scrap recycling, custom minting
- Official Website: www.kalotipm.com
Kaloti is a veteran in the UAE gold scene, specializing in processing dore from African and Asian mines. While it has faced scrutiny in the past, it complies with DMCC’s responsible sourcing protocols and offers competitive refining rates. The refinery’s large-scale operations make it ideal for exporters dealing in high volumes of raw gold.
Gulf Gold Refinery FZE
- Location: Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone), Sharjah
- Year Established: 2012
- Annual Refining Capacity: Over 200 metric tonnes
- Accreditations: UAEGD, ISO 9001:2015, DMCC-aligned responsible sourcing
- Products: Gold bars (10 tola, 100g, 1kg; 995 and 999.9 purity), silver refining, assaying services
- Official Website: www.gulfrefinery.com
Gulf Gold focuses on efficiency, with a daily capacity of up to 700kg and no melting losses. It’s popular among traders for competitive rates and quick turnaround, producing bars that meet international export standards. The Sharjah location benefits from free zone incentives, reducing costs for international buyers.
SAM Precious Metals
- Location: DMCC, Dubai
- Year Established: 2012
- Annual Refining Capacity: Up to 400 tonnes (based on daily output scaling)
- Accreditations: UAEGD for gold and silver, RJC Chain of Custody, ISO 9001:2015, International Accreditation Service (IAS) for assaying
- Products: Gold bars, silver bars (including the world’s largest certified silver bar), coins, recycling from as low as 10% gold content
- Official Website: www.sampreciousmetals.com
SAM is renowned for innovation, recently producing the world’s largest silver bar. Its full-service assaying labs ensure high recovery rates, making it a favorite for recyclers and miners. The refinery’s expansion plans target global markets, with strong emphasis on ethical sourcing.
PALM Gold Refinery FZE
- Location: SAIF Zone, Sharjah
- Year Established: Recent (post-2020)
- Annual Refining Capacity: Scaling to 250,000 ounces (approximately 7.8 tonnes, with growth)
- Accreditations: OECD Due Diligence compliant, DMCC responsible sourcing
- Products: Gold bars (999.9 purity), silver, bespoke creations, refining from mine dore
- Official Website: www.thepgr.com
PALM is an emerging player, focusing on full-spectrum solutions from sourcing to refining. It has refined over 26 tonnes of gold to date and prioritizes transparency, appealing to investors in sustainable precious metals.
For a quick comparison, here’s a table summarizing these refineries:
|
Refinery Name |
Location |
Year Est. |
Annual Capacity (tonnes) |
Key Accreditations |
Main Products |
Website |
|
Emirates Gold DMCC |
Dubai |
1992 |
200 |
LBMA, UAEGD, ISO 9001/14001 |
Gold bars, coins, silver |
|
|
Al Etihad Gold |
Dubai |
2009 |
200 |
LBMA, UAEGD, ISO 9001/45001/RJC |
Gold/silver bars, assaying |
|
|
Kaloti Precious Metals |
Dubai |
1988 |
150+ |
DGD, ISO 9001 |
Bars, coins, recycling |
|
|
Gulf Gold Refinery |
Sharjah |
2012 |
200+ |
UAEGD, ISO 9001 |
Gold bars, silver |
|
|
SAM Precious Metals |
Dubai |
2012 |
400 |
UAEGD (gold/silver), RJC, IAS |
Bars, large silver, recycling |
|
|
PALM Gold Refinery |
Sharjah |
Recent |
7.8+ |
OECD, DMCC compliant |
Gold bars, bespoke |
This table highlights differences in scale and focus, aiding buyers in selecting based on needs like accreditation for export or capacity for bulk processing.
LBMA-Approved Gold Refineries in UAE
LBMA accreditation is the gold standard for refineries, signifying that their bars meet rigorous criteria for purity (minimum 995 fineness), weight, and responsible production. LBMA Good Delivery bars are tradable on the London market and accepted worldwide, critical for investors and central banks to mitigate risks in bullion trade. Approval involves audits on sourcing, environmental impact, and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance.
In the UAE, key LBMA-accredited refineries include:
- Al Etihad Gold Refinery DMCC: Accredited for its high-purity bars, ideal for international trade.
- Emirates Gold DMCC: Known for consistent quality, though monitoring ongoing post-2023 reviews.
These refineries attract high-intent buyers searching for trusted sources, as LBMA status ensures seamless integration into global supply chains. Other UAE refineries may pursue LBMA but currently hold UAEGD, which aligns closely with LBMA standards.
Role of DMCC & Dubai Gold Market
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is the cornerstone of UAE’s gold ecosystem, regulating over 2,000 member companies in precious metals. Established in 2002, DMCC oversees the Dubai Good Delivery (now UAEGD) standard, ensuring refineries adhere to ethical practices. It provides free zone benefits like 100% foreign ownership, no corporate tax for 50 years, and streamlined customs.
Dubai’s gold market, including the iconic Gold Souk, handles 20-30% of global gold trade annually. DMCC’s initiatives, such as the Responsible Sourcing Review Protocol, mandate audits for accredited refineries, enhancing transparency.
This regulatory framework positions Dubai as a bridge between Eastern producers (e.g., Africa, Asia) and Western markets, with free zones like DMCC and SAIF facilitating efficient operations for exporters.
Gold Refining Process in UAE
UAE refineries employ advanced, eco-friendly processes to transform raw materials into investment-grade gold. Here’s a step-by-step overview:
- Import of Gold Dore & Scrap: Raw gold arrives as dore bars (70-90% purity) or scrap. Customs clearance via DMCC ensures compliance with import regulations.
- Smelting and Purification: Materials are melted in furnaces at 1,000-1,200°C. Impurities are removed via chlorination (aqua regia) or electrolysis, achieving 99.5%+ purity.
- Assaying and Quality Testing: Samples are tested in on-site labs using fire assay or spectrometry to verify purity and composition.
- Casting of Gold Bars: Molten gold is poured into molds for bars or gold coins, stamped with serial numbers, weight, and purity.
- Certification and Export Readiness: Gold Bars receive hallmarks (e.g., LBMA/UAEGD) and are packaged for secure export, often with blockchain tracking for traceability.
This process, typically completed in 24-48 hours for large batches, supports long-tail searches like “gold refining steps in Dubai.”
Regulations, Compliance & Transparency
UAE’s gold sector is governed by federal laws emphasizing trust and E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). The Ministry of Economy’s Due Diligence Regulations (Ministerial Decree No. 68 of 2024) mandate responsible sourcing for all refineries, aligning with OECD guidelines to prevent conflict gold. DMCC enforces AML/CFT standards, with recent crackdowns suspending 32 refineries for violations in 2024.
Key aspects include:
- UAE Federal Regulations: Precious metals must comply with anti-smuggling and quality laws.
- DMCC Standards: Annual audits for responsible sourcing, covering supply chain due diligence.
- AML & Responsible Sourcing: Refineries must verify origins, avoiding high-risk areas without checks.
- OECD Alignment: Ensures no human rights abuses in supply chains.
These measures build investor confidence, especially for YMYL topics like gold investments.
Why Dubai Gold Is Trusted Worldwide
Dubai gold’s global reputation stems from several factors:
- Strategic Location: Midway between East and West, facilitating trade from Africa to Europe.
- Tax Efficiency: No VAT on investment gold, making prices 5-10% lower than in India or Europe.
- Advanced Technology: Refineries use Italian machinery and AI-driven assaying for precision.
- Global Acceptance: UAEGD/LBMA bars are recognized by exchanges worldwide.
Compared to Switzerland (high costs, strict regs), India (import duties), and South Africa (supply chain issues), UAE offers speed and cost savings. Its transparent market and robust infrastructure make it a preferred hub for trusted, high-quality gold.
Can African Gold Be Refined in UAE?
Yes, African gold can be refined in UAE, with Dubai processing 80-85% of the continent’s artisanal output. However, strict due diligence is required. Refineries must verify sources to avoid illicit flows, aligning with UAE’s AML laws and OECD standards.
Legitimate exporters from countries like Ghana or Sudan can import dore via customs, benefiting from UAE’s expertise in upgrading low-purity gold.
Challenges include smuggling risks, but compliant channels offer African sellers access to global markets at premium prices.