【India】India Revises Customs Rules: How Much Gold Can UAE Expats Carry?

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Editor’s Note

India has simplified customs rules for gold jewellery carried by non-resident Indians, shifting from a value-based to a weight-based allowance. This change aims to ease compliance for expatriates, particularly those in the UAE, when bringing jewellery into the country.

Revised Rules Simplify Process

India’s decision to revise its customs rules on gold jewellery, allowing non-resident Indians (NRIs) to carry it under a weight-based rather than value-based allowance, will make it easier for expats in the UAE and worldwide to comply with the rules.

Industry Reaction

Shamlal Ahamed, managing director for international operations at Malabar Gold and Diamonds, said that changing the customs rules to let women bring in up to 40 grams and men up to 20 grams of gold jewellery duty-free is a “practical move for the Indian expatriate community worldwide”.

“Previously, the duty-free allowance was based on value limits — Rs100,000 for women and Rs50,000 for men. At current market rates, including making charges, this effectively translates to approximately 6 grams for women and 3 grams for men. The revised rule shifts to a clear, weight-based allowance, making compliance simpler and more transparent,” he said.

Based on February 4 morning gold rates in Dubai, women are allowed to carry tax-free gold jewellery worth Dh3,400, while men can take nearly Dh1,700 of precious metal ornaments.

The new customs rules go into effect immediately, Ahamed added, and apply to passengers who have spent over one year abroad, offering a more straightforward and traveller-friendly framework.

Benefits for Dubai Jewellers

Chirag Vora, Managing Director, Bafleh Jewellers, said the Indian government’s decision to remove the value cap makes Dubai’s competitive pricing even more attractive for NRIs and overseas Indians who regularly travel to India.

“Tourists no longer have to carry a calculator to the billing counter to check if they have exceeded the limit. It makes compliance simpler, more transparent, and far more traveller-friendly,” he said.

Vora sees that this decision will also benefit the Dubai jewellers who cater extensively to Indian buyers.

“Dubai already enjoys strong trust for purity, design variety, and value, and clearer customs norms will further encourage genuine purchases by tourists. Overall, this is a balanced and forward-looking reform that benefits travellers, regulators, and the legitimate jewellery trade alike,” he noted.
Clarity on Personal Effects

Under the earlier customs regime, according to Anurag Chaturvedi, CEO of Andersen UAE, NRIs taking gold jewellery or high-value personal items often faced uncertainty due to valuation and declaration practices at entry points.

“The 2026 Budget has proposed clearer treatment of ‘bona fide personal effects’ under the Baggage Rules, including wearable items such as watches, provided they are for personal use and not intended for sale. For example, an NRI passenger wearing a Rolex watch while travelling to India would not ordinarily be treated as importing goods, unless the item is carried in original packaging or in multiples suggesting commercial intent. These changes are expected to reduce discretion at airports and make compliance easier for genuine travellers,” added Chaturvedi.
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⏰ Published on: February 04, 2026