Mainland or DMCC for a gold and jewellery license?
| Factor | DET mainland | DMCC free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Retail shops, Gold Souk traders, local wholesalers and workshops. | Bullion and bulk trading, and international buyers and sellers. |
| License fee | About AED 10,000 to 18,000 a year. | About AED 15,000 to 22,000 a year, plus a one-off registration of around AED 9,000. |
| Office | A shop or office on Ejari. Gold Souk shop leases cost far more than the license. | A DMCC flexi desk or office in the district. |
| Selling locally | Directly to customers. | Through a mainland partner, branch or distributor. |
| First year, typical | AED 25,000 to 45,000 without the shop lease. | AED 40,000 to 90,000 with a desk or office. |
Ranges at the time of writing, October 2026.
A gold license is not part of a general trading license. Precious metals need their own activity on the license.
Which rules apply to gold and jewellery dealers?
Gold is regulated more tightly than most trades. Budget time for compliance, not only the license.
- goAML registration. Dealers in precious metals and stones are a designated non-financial business and must register with the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit on goAML, whichever license they hold.
- Anti-money-laundering controls. A written policy, customer checks, five years of records and a named compliance officer. The UAE Ministry of Economy supervises dealers and can fine non-compliance.
- Shop security. Dubai security rules require approved CCTV and alarm systems in jewellery shops, signed off before you open.
- Purity and hallmarking. Gold must be sold at the purity you state. Dubai Municipality's Central Laboratory tests and certifies gold purity.
- Responsible sourcing. DMCC asks gold traders to declare where their gold comes from.
For the first year, a consultant-led AML and compliance setup commonly adds AED 8,000 to 20,000. Add security systems, stock and insurance on top.
What do the Gold Souk and Dubai Good Delivery mean for you?
The Gold Souk in Deira is a retail and wholesale market, so a DET license with a shop there is the usual route for walk-in trade. Shop leases in the souk are the real cost, and they can dwarf the license fee.
Dubai Good Delivery, or DGD, is a standard set by DMCC for refiners whose bars are accepted in the Dubai market. You don't need DGD to trade jewellery or to buy and sell bars from accredited refiners. It matters only if you refine or produce bars.
Which documents do you need, and how long does it take?
- Certified passport copies for every shareholder.
- Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement.
- A source-of-funds declaration.
- Details of every owner of 25 percent or more.
- For company shareholders, attested incorporation papers and a certificate of incumbency.
- The lease for a shop, desk or office.
- For DMCC, a gold supplier questionnaire and a responsible sourcing declaration.
A DET or DMCC license usually takes one to two weeks once documents are complete. The bank account is the slow part. Expect four to eight weeks, because banks run enhanced checks on precious metals businesses.
What does a gold trading license cost in Dubai?
At the time of writing, a small mainland jewellery setup costs roughly AED 25,000 to 45,000 in the first year before the shop lease, and a DMCC gold trading company roughly AED 40,000 to 90,000 with a desk or office. Stock, security, insurance and compliance are separate.
For the general fee stack, see the trade license cost in Dubai guide, and for the wider picture our business setup cost page.
Which fees go to the government, and which are Startex's?
A gold license has two kinds of cost: the authority fees, and the compliance and security you must have before you open.
| Item | Government fee (paid to) | Startex service fee |
|---|---|---|
| DET license, gold and jewellery activity | About AED 10,000 to 18,000 a year (DET) | Quoted separately |
| DMCC license fee | About AED 15,000 to 22,000 a year (DMCC) | Quoted separately |
| DMCC registration | Around AED 9,000, once (DMCC) | Quoted separately |
| Trade name and initial approval | AED 720 to 1,000 combined, once (DET) | Quoted separately |
| goAML registration | No fee, but a named compliance officer is needed (UAE Financial Intelligence Unit) | Quoted separately |
| AML and compliance setup | AED 8,000 to 20,000 in the first year, paid to the compliance provider | Quoted separately |
| Residence visa, per person | AED 3,500 to 8,000 every two years (GDRFA Dubai and ICP) | Quoted separately |
Government figures are ranges at the time of writing, October 2026. Our service fee is quoted in writing, as its own line, before you pay anything.
How long does it take?
The license is quick. The bank account and shop sign-off are what slow a gold business down.
| Step | Typical time | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name and initial approval | 1 to 3 working days | DET or DMCC |
| License issued | 1 to 2 weeks once documents are complete | DET or DMCC |
| goAML registration | A few working days | UAE Financial Intelligence Unit |
| Shop fit-out and security sign-off | 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the unit | Landlord and the security approval authority |
| Corporate bank account | 4 to 8 weeks | The bank |
Fee ranges come from current government schedules and typical package pricing in Dubai, October 2026. Fees and rules change without notice, so we confirm the live figure with the authority before we quote you. Authorities named on this page: Dubai Economy and Tourism, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Land Department, DMCC and the UAE Ministry of Economy. Official sources: Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET), DMCC and GDRFA Dubai.