UAE Gold Purchases Surge 25% as Demand Shifts to Bars and Coins

Gold purchases in the UAE surged by 25.3% during the second quarter of 2026, reaching 10.9 tonnes, driven by strong demand for gold bars and coins as consumers increasingly turned to precious metals for savings and investment purposes.

The World Gold Council reported that total UAE gold demand, including jewelry, bars, and coins, rose from 8.7 tonnes in the first quarter to 10.9 tonnes in the second quarter of 2026.

Strong growth was seen in bar and coin sales, increasing 32.5% quarter-on-quarter to 5.3 tonnes during the second quarter, compared with 4 tonnes in the first quarter. Jewelry purchases also increased during the quarter, rising 19.1% to 5.6 tonnes.

However, despite the strong second-quarter performance, total UAE gold demand during the first half of 2026 fell 14% year-on-year to 19.6 tonnes, compared with 22.8 tonnes during the same period of 2025.