Activity guide / Precious Metals & Luxury
Gold & Jewellery Trading business setup in the UAE
Trading gold, jewellery and precious stones at wholesale, retail or refining-adjacent level.
Plan this activityBy Two Pillars Advisory. Sources last checked 2026-10-23. Independent guidance, not authority advice.
Understanding gold & jewellery trading
Gold and jewellery traders buy and sell finished jewellery, gold and precious stones. They are designated non-financial businesses for anti-money-laundering purposes, so registration, customer due diligence and responsible sourcing apply alongside the trade licence.
DMCC is a widely used free zone for precious metals and stones trading. Its official business setup information is linked below; suitability depends on your model.
At a glance
- What the activity covers: Trading gold, jewellery and precious stones at wholesale, retail or refining-adjacent level.
- Activity type: Trading with compliance obligations
- Likely jurisdiction context: Regulated
- Possible external approvals: Dealers in precious metals and stones are subject to designated non-financial business obligations, including AML registration and reporting.
What you offer matters.
What this activity covers
Trading gold, jewellery and precious stones at wholesale, retail or refining-adjacent level.
A plain-English label, not an official activity name or code.
Boundaries & approvals to check
Dealers in precious metals and stones are subject to designated non-financial business obligations, including AML registration and reporting.
Cash transactions without due diligence.
Your independent consultant: Two Pillars Advisory
Two Pillars helps you define the business model, compare routes and prepare an application. We are an independent consultancy, not a licensing authority.
The licence issuer / regulator: the competent authority
The competent licensing authority decides the permitted activity scope and issues the licence. A sector regulator may separately assess and authorise regulated services. Neither decision is made by TPA.
Choose around your operations.
Expect DNFBP registration, goAML reporting and sourcing policies alongside the trade licence.
For gold & jewellery trading: Dealers in precious metals and stones are subject to designated non-financial business obligations, including AML registration and reporting.
Confirm the local operating route
Describe where customers, staff, premises and goods will be located. Ask the mainland issuer and any proposed free zone to confirm the exact scope and any permissions for operating outside the zone.
Map delivery across borders
Describe where the service is delivered or goods move. Confirm entity scope, destination requirements and any UAE local operations separately; international customers do not establish free zone eligibility.
Check the sector perimeter first
Describe the actual service, product and client type to the competent regulator. A commercial registration alone does not establish authorisation to deliver regulated services.
| Decision point | Mainland | Free Zone | Sectoral approvals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who decides? | Competent emirate licensing authority | Proposed free zone licensing authority | Competent regulator, where applicable |
| Permitted operating scope | Requires case-by-case confirmation | Requires case-by-case confirmation | Dealers in precious metals and stones are subject to designated non-financial business obligations, including AML registration and reporting. |
| Premises, people & documents | Confirm for the selected activity | Confirm for the selected activity and zone | Confirm against the regulated service or product |
| Fees & timing | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Confirm if a separate application applies |
From scope to application.
- Decide retail, wholesale or both.
- Register for AML reporting.
- Adopt a responsible sourcing policy.
- Plan secure premises and insurance.
Illustrative planning sequence; the authority may require a different application order or additional steps.
Common mistakes worth avoiding.
- Cash transactions without due diligence.
- No sourcing documentation for stock.
Authority information, independently explained.
Published by Two Pillars Advisory. References last checked 2026-10-23; each source’s check date and jurisdiction are shown below. Review is limited to the cited activity scope, not an approval or universal licensing assessment. Confirm current requirements directly before applying.
No affiliation, partnership or endorsement by the authorities listed.
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism: Dealers in Precious Metals and Precious Stones: DNFBP and responsible sourcing framework. Dealers in precious metals and stones fall within the DNFBP anti-money-laundering framework. These obligations sit alongside the commercial trade licence and are not a substitute for it. (UAE, checked 2026-09-12)
- DMCC: Business setup. Official DMCC business setup information. Listing does not imply suitability for every model. (DMCC free zone, Dubai, checked 2026-10-23)
- Invest in Dubai: Search business activities. Official Dubai activity search. Final activity wording and code must be confirmed here or with the licensing authority before filing. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET): Business licensing. Official Dubai business licensing information, including licence types and permit requirements. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
Before you take the next step.
Do jewellery shops have AML duties?
Yes. Dealers in precious metals and stones have AML obligations including reporting.
Is DMCC required for gold trading?
No, but DMCC is a common free zone for precious metals trading. Mainland routes also exist.