Gold Price Comparison · Thursday, October 22, 2026
Sri Lanka vs United Arab Emirates
Live 24K gold rate side-by-side in LKR and AED. Updated every minute from the international XAU/USD spot price.
United Arab Emirates
AED24K · per tola
د.إ5,666
22K /tola
د.إ5,194
Per gram
د.إ486
Today's Spread
After converting both rates to a common USD basis, gold is +0.00% cheaper in Sri Lanka. The base XAU/USD spot price is the same worldwide — the difference comes from exchange rates, local taxes, and import duties.
Advertisement
Karat-by-Karat Comparison
| Karat | Sri Lanka | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| 24K · per tola | Rs511,760 | د.إ5,666 |
| 22K · per tola | Rs469,113 | د.إ5,194 |
| 21K · per tola | Rs447,790 | د.إ4,958 |
| 18K · per tola | Rs383,820 | د.إ4,249 |
Compare Gold Price in Every Weight Unit — Sri Lanka vs United Arab Emirates
Side-by-side 24K gold prices across every major regional weight unit used worldwide — from the South Asian Tola, Masha, and Ratti to Bangladesh's Vori, Thailand's Baht, Vietnam's Lượng, Iran's Mesghal, and the Chinese Tael, Mace and Candareen. Both columns are calculated live from each country's per-gram rate: Rs43,875/g in Sri Lanka vs د.إ485.75/g in United Arab Emirates.
South Asian
1 Tolaتولا · तोला
11.664 g · Pakistan, India, Nepal
1 Mashaماشہ
0.972 g · 1/12 Tola
1 Rattiرتی
0.1215 g · 1/96 Tola · gemstones
1 Vori (Bhori)ভরি
11.664 g · Bangladesh
1 Ana (Anna)আনা
0.729 g · 1/16 Vori
Metric & Global
1 Gramg
1 g · Worldwide standard
1 Kilogramkg
1,000 g · Bulk trade
1 Troy Ounceoz t
31.1035 g · LBMA bullion standard
East & SE Asian
1 HK Tael兩
37.429 g · Hong Kong, Macau
1 CN Tael兩
31.25 g · Mainland China
1 Mace錢
3.7429 g · 1/10 HK Tael
1 Candareen分
0.37429 g · 1/100 HK Tael
1 Bahtบาท
15.244 g · Thailand
1 Luong (Lượng)lượng
37.5 g · Vietnam
Middle Eastern
1 Mesghalمثقال
4.6083 g · Iran
1 Mithqalمثقال
4.25 g · Saudi, UAE, Egypt
Imperial & Western
1 Pennyweightdwt
1.55517 g · 1/20 Troy Oz
1 Graingr
0.064799 g · 1/480 Troy Oz
Prices computed from live 24K per-gram rates · Sri Lanka: Rs43,875/g · United Arab Emirates: د.إ485.75/g · Updated every 60 seconds
Why Gold Prices Differ Between Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates
Gold trades on a single global market — the XAU/USD spot price is the same everywhere. But once you compare Sri Lanka (LKR) against United Arab Emirates (AED) in local currency, the prices differ for four reasons:
- Currency exchange rates — a weaker LKR or AED against the dollar pushes the local gold price up.
- Local taxes — VAT, GST, sales tax differ by country.
- Import duties — both countries levy different customs charges on gold imports.
- Jeweller making charges — when shopping for jewellery (not bullion), local labour costs change the final price.
Goldify Pro tracks the live international XAU/USD rate every 60 seconds and converts it to LKR and AED using real-time exchange rates so you can compare both markets accurately.
Other comparisons
Browse other gold price comparisons:
Advertisement
Why the gold price differs between Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates
Both figures above start from the same international XAU/USD spot price. The gap comes from exchange rates, tax, and which karat and weight unit each market quotes. On today's numbers United Arab Emirates is the cheaper of the two for 24K metal.
| Country | Tax on gold | Purity and unit | Carrying gold home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | import duty and VAT on jewellery | 22K, often priced per sovereign (8 g) | worn personal jewellery is normally allowed; bullion is dutiable |
| United Arab Emirates | 5% VAT on jewellery; investment-grade bars of 99% purity and above are zero-rated | 22K and 21K, quoted per gram; 24K for bars | no limit on buying, but your home country's import rules decide what you pay on return |
Retail prices add making charges on top of the metal value, typically 3% to 15% depending on the piece, so the real saving from buying abroad is smaller than the spot gap and can vanish once import duty is paid at home.
Weight Units Used in Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, gold is most commonly quoted in sovereign (8 g), pound (32 g), and gram. The standard jewellery purity is 22K jewellery dominates, with 24K bars for investment.
United Arab Emirates
In United Arab Emirates, gold is most commonly quoted in gram (the primary unit), tola for South Asian customers, and ounce for bullion. The standard jewellery purity is 21K is the most popular jewellery alloy, alongside 22K, 18K, and 24K bars.
When comparing rates between Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates, always check whether the price you're quoted is for the same weight unit and purity. A tola in India is identical (11.664 g) to a vori in Bangladesh, but a Saudi mithqal (4.25 g) is roughly 2.74 times heavier than a Persian mesghal converted at the same per-gram rate. The table above normalises every unit so you can compare apples-to-apples.
Taxes & Duties — Why the Sticker Price Differs
Sri Lanka
- 18% VAT
- Plus 1% Social Security Contribution Levy
- Investment bullion has reduced rates
United Arab Emirates
- 5% VAT on jewellery making charges only
- Gold-content value is exempt
- No import duty on gold bars
These taxes affect the final price you pay. They do not include country-specific taxes, duties, or jewellery making charges (3–15% of metal value depending on design), the relevant tax rate, and any dealer margin (1–3% on bullion, more on jewellery).
Gold Market Culture — Sri Lanka vs United Arab Emirates
Sri Lanka
Markets: Colombo's Pettah and Sea Street are the primary retail centres.
Peak buying season: Sinhala/Tamil New Year (April), weddings, and Vesak drive demand.
United Arab Emirates
Markets: Dubai's Gold Souk in Deira is the world's most-visited gold market; rates set by the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group.
Peak buying season: Dubai Shopping Festival (Dec–Feb), Eid, Diwali, and Christmas drive heaviest tourist demand.
Worked Example — Converting Between LKR and AED
Suppose you want to buy 1 tola (11.664 g) of 24K gold.
Sri Lanka
United Arab Emirates
Important — Gold prices cannot be compared directly because they are in different currencies. This page first converts both rates back to a common USD basis (using live exchange rates), then expresses the spread as a percentage. Live: 1 tola of 24K gold today costs Rs511,760 in Sri Lanka and د.إ5,666 in United Arab Emirates.
Buying Tips When Comparing Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates
Check the hallmark
Look for BIS Hallmark (India), Hallmark Certificate (Bangladesh), 916/750 stamp, or local equivalents. Never buy unmarked gold.
Ask for the per-gram price first
Jewellers often quote in tola, vori, or at piece price — request the per-gram rate so you can verify against the live spot.
Separate metal cost from making charges
A receipt should show: metal weight × per gram rate, plus making charges, plus tax. It is your right before paying.
Compare same purity
A 22K item in one country is not directly comparable with an 18K item in another. Always compare the same purity.
Factor in repatriation
If you're buying abroad to bring home, account for customs duty, declaration thresholds, and baggage allowance limits.
Time your purchase
Spot prices fluctuate. Festival markups and exchange-rate swings can change retail prices ±5% in a week.
Pro Tip: Use our live gold price converters to compare prices accurately in LKR, AED, AED, USD & more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to buy gold in Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates?+
On the international XAU/USD basis the price is the same in both countries. After converting to local currency and adding taxes plus making charges, the cheaper destination depends on the day's exchange rates, the purity you buy, and the dealer's margin. The diff bar at the top of this page shows today's USD-equivalent spread.
Can I buy gold in Sri Lanka and sell it in United Arab Emirates?+
Cross-border gold arbitrage is legal in most countries within declared baggage allowances, but customs duties, VAT/GST, and proof-of-purchase requirements often erode any spread. Most tourists also lose 4–8% on jeweller buy-back margins. Goldify Pro is intended as a reference, not investment advice.
Why is the same 24K gold priced differently in Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates?+
The XAU/USD international spot price is the same everywhere. Local prices in LKR and AED differ because of (1) exchange-rate fluctuations versus the dollar, (2) import duties and VAT/GST, (3) jeweller making charges, and (4) supply-and-demand spreads.
Which is purer — gold sold in Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates?+
Purity depends on the karat you buy, not the country. Hallmarked 24K is 99.9% pure regardless of origin. Sri Lanka commonly stocks 22K jewellery dominates, with 24K bars for investment; United Arab Emirates commonly stocks 21K is the most popular jewellery alloy, alongside 22K, 18K, and 24K bars. Always check the local hallmark (BIS, Hallmark Certificate, KDM, 916/750 stamps, etc.).
How often does Goldify Pro update the rates on this comparison page?+
Live XAU/USD spot is fetched every 60 seconds from gold-api.com. Currency exchange rates refresh every minute from exchangerate-api.com. This page itself is statically generated and revalidated every 5 minutes (ISR) so it stays fast while staying close to live.
Are the prices on this page the retail rates I'll pay at a jeweller?+
No — they are pure-metal value at international parity. A jeweller's quote adds making charges, design premium, and local taxes. Expect retail to sit 5–15% above the rates shown here. Use this page as a baseline to verify that a dealer's quote isn't unfair.
Can I use this comparison for investment-grade bullion?+
Yes — investment-grade bullion (≥99.5% pure) typically trades very close to the per-gram or per-ounce rate shown here, with a small dealer premium of 1–3%. Many countries (UK, US, Singapore) exempt investment-grade gold from VAT/sales tax.
What does "per tola" mean and is it the same as "per vori"?+
1 tola = 1 vori = exactly 11.664 grams. The two are identical in weight — "tola" is the standard term in Pakistan, India, and Nepal, and "vori" (also spelt "bhori") is used in Bangladesh. The price per tola/vori is simply the per-gram rate multiplied by 11.664.
Methodology: Goldify Pro derives every price on this page from the live XAU/USD spot rate (sourced from gold-api.com) divided by 31.1035 g per troy ounce to get a per-gram USD rate, then multiplied by the live LKR/USD and AED/USD exchange rates (from exchangerate-api.com) to produce the local-currency rates shown. Multipliers for tola (11.664), masha (0.972), ratti (0.1215), vori (11.664), ana (0.729), baht (15.244), lượng (37.5), HK tael (37.429), mace (3.7429), candareen (0.37429), mesghal (4.6083), mithqal (4.25), pennyweight (1.55517), grain (0.064799), and karat purity ratios (purity ÷ 24) are mathematical constants and never approximated.
What this page does NOT include: local sales tax, VAT, GST, import duty, jeweller making charges, design premiums, or coin numismatic premiums. The values are pure metal value at international parity — useful for cost-basis calculations, valuation, accounting, and educational research, but not directly comparable to a jeweller's retail quote.
Always verify locally: before any significant transaction, confirm the live rate with a reputable bullion dealer in Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates. Goldify Pro is for reference and education, not a price quote for buying or selling physical gold.