In short
- Zakat on gold is 2.5% of its value once it reaches the 85 g nisab and has been held for one Hijri year, per Awqaf.
- Saved gold, bars and coins are included. Awqaf's calculator page does not say how jewellery worn for personal use is treated: ask its fatwa service.
- Convert first: multiply the weight by 22/24, 21/24 or 18/24. 100 g of 18K gold is 75 g of 24K, below the nisab.
- For a Gregorian year Awqaf's calculator applies 2.577% instead of 2.5%.
- Awqaf calculates your zakat free of charge: WhatsApp +971 800 8222 or toll-free 8008222, which also takes fatwa questions.
Zakat on gold in the UAE is 2.5% of the value of your gold, once it reaches the nisab of 85 grams and you have held it for one Hijri year. That is the rule the UAE's General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf) publishes with its zakat calculator.1 Gold of 22K, 21K or 18K is first converted to its 24K equivalent, so a piece that weighs 85 grams on the scale can still be below the nisab. This guide sets out the rule, the conversion in grams, and where to ask when your case is not covered.
- 2.5%
- of the value of the gold, for a Hijri year
- 85 g
- the nisab, counted in 24K gold
- 1 Hijri year
- the gold must have been held this long
- 2.577%
- the rate Awqaf's calculator applies for a Gregorian year
Nisab and rate: the rule Awqaf publishes
Awqaf is an independent federal entity, and its stated mission includes receiving zakat funds and distributing them to the beneficiaries.2 Its zakat calculator sets three conditions for gold:1
- Nisab
- the gold must reach 85 grams, counted as 24K gold.1
- Time
- the gold must have completed one Hijri year in your possession.1
- Rate
- 2.5% of the total value of that gold.1
Awqaf's services guide gives the same rule in the traditional wording: the nisab for gold starts at 85 grams, and zakat is one-quarter of one-tenth, which is 2.5%.6 The 2.5% applies to the total value of the gold, not only to the grams above 85.1
The same 85 grams sets the threshold for money: Awqaf says zakat on money is due when your wealth exceeds the value of 85 grams of 24K gold. Silver has its own nisab of 595 grams.1 If your gold is below the nisab, the calculator tells you that no zakat is due and shows the nisab value it compared against.1
What gold is counted
The calculator page names three kinds of gold that go into the total:1
- Saved gold. Gold you keep rather than use.
- Gold bars and gold coins. Bullion counts in full. Our guide to gold bars and coins in Dubai explains their weights and purity.
- Gold of any purity. 18K, 21K and 22K are included after conversion to their 24K equivalent.
Saved gold is included in the calculation.
General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, zakat calculator
The calculator values gold by its weight and karat only. Its gold section asks for the weight of 18K, 21K, 22K and 24K gold you own and for the price of 24K gold per gram; it has no field for making charges or stones.1 So the price you paid in the shop is not the figure to use.
Converting 18K, 21K and 22K to 24K
A karat is a share out of 24. The Dubai Jewellery Group (DJG) puts it this way: 22K gold is 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metals, 21K is 21 parts gold and 3 parts other metals, and 18K is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals.3 Awqaf's calculator converts by the same fraction: it multiplies the weight of 18K gold by 18/24, 21K by 21/24 and 22K by 22/24, and adds 24K gold at its full weight.1
| Karat | Gold share | Multiply the weight by | Weight on the scale that equals 85 g of 24K |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 24 of 24 | 1 | 85.00 g |
| 22K | 22 of 24 | 22/24 | 92.73 g |
| 21K | 21 of 24 | 21/24 | 97.14 g |
| 18K | 18 of 24 | 18/24 | 113.33 g |
The karat is in the hallmark: 916 for 22K, 875 for 21K and 750 for 18K.3 Our guide to 916 gold and hallmarks shows where to find it.
A worked example in grams
An example, not a typical case: a household keeps 60 g of 22K gold and 40 g of 18K gold in a safe, and has held both for a full Hijri year.
- 22K: 60 × 22 ÷ 24 = 55 g of 24K gold.
- 18K: 40 × 18 ÷ 24 = 30 g of 24K gold.
- Total: 55 + 30 = 85 g of 24K gold. That is exactly the nisab, so zakat is due.
- Zakat: 2.5% of the value of 85 g of 24K gold, which equals the value of 2.125 g of 24K gold (85 × 0.025).
The scale alone would mislead here. Someone holding 100 g of 18K gold holds 75 g of 24K equivalent (100 × 18 ÷ 24) and is below the nisab on this conversion. With 100 g of 22K gold the equivalent is 91.67 g, above it.
What the nisab is worth today
To turn grams into dirhams you need a price for 24K gold. Awqaf's calculator fills in the price of 24K gold per gram automatically, or asks you to enter one.1 Its page does not name the source of that price. The table below uses the DJG suggested retail rate for 24K, which DJG bases on the international gold price converted into dirhams.45
| Weight | 24K, AED |
|---|---|
| nisab 85 g | 39,780.00 |
| zakat on 85 g 2.125 g | 994.50 |
How to calculate zakat on gold in the UAE, step by step
- List your gold. Saved jewellery, bars and coins, each with its karat and weight. The karat is in the hallmark or on the invoice; if you are unsure of a piece, see how to check gold purity.
- Convert each item to 24K. Multiply the weight by 18/24, 21/24 or 22/24, as the calculator does.1
- Check the nisab. Add the 24K equivalents. Zakat on gold applies from 85 g.1
- Check the year. The gold must have completed one Hijri year.1
- Put a price on it. Multiply the 24K grams by the price of 24K gold per gram.
- Take 2.5%. That is the zakat for a Hijri year.1
Hijri year or Gregorian year
The year is counted from a start date. For wealth that rises and falls, Awqaf's services guide says to count one lunar year from the first time you held the nisab; small changes during the year do not matter, but if the wealth falls below the nisab, the year starts again when it returns to the nisab.6 The guide gives this rule for money; ask the fatwa service how it applies to your gold.
Awqaf's calculator shows two results side by side. For the Hijri year the zakat amount is 2.5%; for the Gregorian year it is 2.577%.1 If you keep your zakat year by the Gregorian calendar, the calculator applies the second rate. On the worked example above, 2.577% of 85 g is the value of 2.19 g of 24K gold (85 × 0.02577, rounded), against 2.125 g at 2.5%.
Where to ask and where to pay
- A free calculation by Awqaf. Awqaf calculates zakat for individuals free of charge, with no forms: on WhatsApp at +971 800 8222, by calling 8008222, on its website, or in the Dubai Now app for zakat on money and gold. Its customer happiness centres take requests from 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM, with different hours in Ramadan.6
- Questions about your case. Awqaf answers religious questions through e-Fatwa, phone fatwa and SMS fatwa services.2 An e-Fatwa answer may take 1 to 5 working days and comes back by email.2 Its toll-free number is 8008222, answered during official working hours.2
- Paying. When zakat is due, Awqaf's calculator offers a button to continue to payment with the amount it has worked out.1 Awqaf also takes zakat through its app, by SMS, through the apps of a list of UAE banks, at ATMs, by bank transfer and through its call centre on 8008222, and confirms each payment by SMS.6 Subscribers can ask for a reminder when the next payment is due.6
- Selling gold to pay. If you sell part of your gold, read how to sell gold in Dubai first, and compare offers from gold buyers in the UAE. On resale a jeweller values a piece by its material value, which can be much lower than what you paid.3
Questions and answers
What is the nisab for gold in the UAE?
85 grams of gold, counted as 24K. Awqaf, the UAE's General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, says zakat on gold is due on gold that reaches this nisab and has completed one Hijri year. Gold of lower purity is converted to its 24K equivalent first, so you need more than 85 grams of 22K, 21K or 18K gold to reach it.
How much is zakat on gold?
2.5% of the total value of the gold, for a Hijri year. Awqaf's calculator also shows a figure for a Gregorian year, at 2.577%. In grams, 2.5% of the 85 g nisab is the value of 2.125 g of 24K gold. Our gold price and zakat calculator turns your weights into dirhams at today's rate.
How do I convert 22K or 18K gold to 24K for zakat?
Multiply the weight by the karat and divide by 24, as Awqaf's calculator does: 22K by 22/24, 21K by 21/24 and 18K by 18/24. For example, 60 g of 22K gold is 55 g of 24K, and 40 g of 18K gold is 30 g of 24K. Add the results and compare the total with 85 g.
Do making charges or stones count in zakat on gold?
Awqaf's calculator values gold by weight and karat only. Its gold section asks for the weight of 18K, 21K, 22K and 24K gold and the price of 24K gold per gram, and has no field for making charges or stones. So start from the weight of gold, not the price on your shop invoice, and ask Awqaf's fatwa service about anything the calculator does not cover.
Is zakat due on gold jewellery that I wear?
Awqaf's calculator page does not say. It names saved gold, gold bars and gold coins as included, and is silent on jewellery worn for personal use. Ask Awqaf's fatwa service, by e-Fatwa, phone or SMS, or on toll-free 8008222. Its fatwas follow the Maliki school, which Awqaf calls the official school of Islamic law in the UAE.
Which gold price should I use to calculate zakat?
Awqaf's calculator fills in the price of 24K gold per gram automatically, or asks you to enter one; its page does not name the source. Our pages use the Dubai Jewellery Group suggested retail rate, which is a retail price for gold in new jewellery. The two can differ, so use Awqaf's calculator for the amount you pay.
When does the zakat year on gold start?
Awqaf's rule for gold is that it must have completed one Hijri year in your possession. For wealth that rises and falls, its services guide says to count the year from the first time you held the nisab, and to restart it if the wealth falls below the nisab during the year. The guide gives this rule for money, so ask the fatwa service on 8008222 about your gold.
What if my gold is below the nisab?
Then zakat on gold is not due on it under Awqaf's rule. Awqaf's calculator says there is no zakat on you when the total is below the nisab, and shows the nisab value it compared against. Remember to compare the 24K equivalent, not the weight on the scale: 100 g of 18K gold is 75 g of 24K.
Where can I pay zakat in the UAE?
Awqaf receives zakat and distributes it to beneficiaries, according to its stated mission. You can pay through its calculator's payment button, its website and app, by SMS, through the apps of several UAE banks, at ATMs, by bank transfer, or through its call centre on toll-free 8008222. Awqaf confirms each payment by SMS.
Sources
Every number in this guide comes from one of these pages. Official pages are linked. Stores are named without a link: we do not send readers to store websites.
- General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf) Zakat calculation: zakat on gold, money and silver read 14 November 2026
- General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf) Website: fatwa services, approach to fatwa, mission and contact numbers read 14 November 2026
- Dubai Jewellery Group Jewellery guide read 14 November 2026
- Dubai Jewellery Group Today's suggested retail gold jewellery price read 14 November 2026
- Dubai Jewellery Group Key functions of the Dubai Jewellery Group read 14 November 2026
- General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf) Services Guide, April 2026 (PDF): Zakat Payment and Zakat Calculation read 14 November 2026
This guide explains how selling and buying gold works in the UAE as the named sources describe it. It is not financial or legal advice, and each business sets its own terms: confirm them with the business before you hand anything over.