Saudi Arabia applies a 15% VAT to gold jewellery — one of the highest rates in the Gulf — while investment-grade bullion is treated differently. Here's how VAT, karat, and the riyal's dollar peg shape what you actually pay.
Gold price today in Saudi Arabia: SAR 129.46 per gram (24K), updated 08:29 UTC. Indicative price, not an offer to buy or sell.
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Total: 0.000000 SAR
| Unit | Grams | Price (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Common | ||
| Troy OunceUS, GB, CA, AU, DE, CH | 31.1035 | SAR 4,026.60 |
| GramSA, AE, EG, TR, DE, FR, ES, IT | 1 | SAR 129.46 |
| KilogramDE, CH, IN | 1,000 | SAR 129,458.10 |
| TolaIN, PK, BD, NP | 11.6638 | SAR 1,509.97 |
| Asian Units | ||
| BahtTH | 15.244 | SAR 1,973.46 |
| Tael (HK)HK, MO | 37.429 | SAR 4,845.49 |
| Tael (Japan)JP | 37.5 | SAR 4,854.68 |
| Vori / BoriBD | 11.6638 | SAR 1,509.97 |
| MashaIN, PK | 0.972 | SAR 125.83 |
| Small Units | ||
| Carat (metric) | 0.2 | SAR 25.89 |
| GrainUS, GB | 0.0648 | SAR 8.39 |
| RattiIN, PK | 0.1215 | SAR 15.73 |
| Karat | Purity | Price / gram (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
24K | 99.9% | SAR 129.33 |
22K | 91.7% | SAR 118.67 |
21K | 87.5% | SAR 113.28 |
18K | 75.0% | SAR 97.09 |
14K | 58.3% | SAR 75.47 |
10K | 41.7% | SAR 53.98 |
Saudi Arabia raised VAT from 5% to 15% in July 2020, and gold jewellery is taxed at the standard rate — applied to the making/manufacturing charge, and in practice to the full transaction value at the point of retail sale. Investment-grade gold — bars and coins of at least 99% purity that are tradable on the global bullion market — can qualify for VAT zero-rating under the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's (ZATCA) rules for investment precious metals, similar to the treatment used across other VAT-implementing GCC states. This is the single biggest reason retail jewellery prices in Saudi Arabia sit further above the raw metal value than in VAT-free Qatar.
21-karat (87.5% purity) gold is the everyday standard across Saudi jewellery markets, mirroring the wider Gulf preference. Purity is regulated and hallmarked under standards set by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), and reputable jewellers stamp each piece with its karat. 24K bars and coins are the norm for investment buyers, while 18K appears in lighter, budget-oriented jewellery — but 21K remains what most shoppers mean by "gold" in everyday retail.
The Saudi Riyal has been pegged to the US dollar at 3.75 SAR per USD since 1986, one of the longest-standing currency pegs in the region, maintained by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Because international gold trades in US dollars, this peg means the SAR gold price mirrors global spot-price movements almost directly — SAR/USD exchange-rate risk is effectively removed from the equation, leaving the world gold market as the dominant driver of local price swings.
Gold souqs in Riyadh (notably Al-Dirah), Jeddah, and Makkah remain central to how Saudis buy jewellery, alongside a growing number of branded retail chains in shopping malls. Because VAT and making charges both sit on top of the metal price, shoppers typically pay close attention to the day's gold rate and negotiate the workmanship fee rather than the metal value itself, which is fixed by weight and purity. Gifting gold — for weddings, Eid, and other occasions — remains a strong cultural driver of demand, alongside a well-established market for 24K investment bars and coins bought through banks and licensed dealers.
How much VAT is charged on gold in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia applies 15% VAT to gold jewellery (raised from 5% in July 2020), generally applied at the point of retail sale. Investment-grade bullion — bars and coins of at least 99% purity tradable on the global market — can qualify for VAT zero-rating under ZATCA rules.
What karat of gold is standard in Saudi Arabia?
21K (87.5% purity) is the everyday retail standard, regulated and hallmarked under SASO purity standards. 24K is typical for investment bars and coins, and 18K appears in lighter, more affordable jewellery.
Is Saudi Arabia's gold price affected by SAR exchange-rate swings?
Very little. The Saudi Riyal has been pegged to the US dollar at 3.75 SAR per USD since 1986, so SAR gold prices track the international US-dollar spot price closely, with almost no separate currency-driven volatility.
Sources: Saudi Central Bank / SAMA (SAR/USD peg); Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) VAT guidance on precious metals and investment gold; Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) gold hallmarking standards. Last reviewed 2026-07-13.