Editor’s Note
This article outlines significant changes to gold import regulations from Dubai, mandating the use of authorized CEPA permit holders. The policy shift, stemming from India’s 2026 budget, aims to formalize trade channels under the bilateral agreement.
Importing gold from Dubai will no longer be as straightforward as before. According to new government rules, you cannot directly bring gold from Dubai anymore. For this, you will now have to contact agencies or jewelers holding permits under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE. This announcement was made by the government following decisions taken in the budget for the fiscal year 2026.
The Indian government has taken a major step by imposing a ban on the import of gold and silver in raw, semi-finished, or powder forms.
It should be noted that the budget mentioned a change in the HS (Harmonized System) code. An HS code is a number that identifies which items are being imported and which goods are being exported. In the budget, the government had talked about introducing an HS code or tariff code for gold dore, silver dore, or items containing more than 99 percent platinum.
To prevent this, the government introduced a separate HS code for platinum. This will prevent gold from being imported by declaring it as platinum, while a ban will be imposed on the import of platinum under any mixture other than 99 percent or more pure platinum.
Under the India-UAE CEPA agreement, India is allowed to import 200 metric tons of gold annually from the UAE with a 1 percent concession. However, it is mandatory to have a TRQ (Tariff Rate Quota) license for this. This helps bring transparency to gold imports as well as control tax evasion.