21K Gold in the UAE: Hallmark, Price per Gram and How It Compares

21K gold is 87.5% pure and stamped 875. On 16 October 2026 it cost AED 444.50 a gram in the UAE. See how it compares with 22K and 18K for rings and resale.

What is 21K gold?

21K gold is an alloy of 21 parts pure gold to 3 parts other metals, usually copper and silver. That makes it 87.5 per cent gold. In the UAE it is priced daily by the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group (DGJG), and on 16 October 2026 the official 21K rate was AED 444.50 per gram, unchanged from the day before.

21K sits between 22K (91.6 per cent) and 18K (75 per cent). It has a warm, rich yellow colour that is only slightly lighter than 22K. It is a long-standing favourite for Gulf and Arabic-style jewellery, so you will see plenty of it in Dubai souks alongside the 22K pieces aimed at South Asian buyers.

Rates move every trading day. For the current figure, check the live 21K gold rate before you go shopping.

21K gold number code: what does 875 mean?

The 21k gold number code is 875. It means 875 parts of gold per 1,000, which is the same as 87.5 per cent. On most UAE jewellery you will find it stamped inside a ring band, on a clasp or on a small tag near the hook of a necklace. Some pieces show "21K" as well, or instead.

The other codes are worth knowing so you are not confused at the counter. 999 is 24K, 916 is 22K, 750 is 18K and 585 is 14K. A piece marked 916 is not 21K, even if a seller describes it loosely. If you find no stamp at all, ask why before you pay, and make sure the purity is printed on your invoice.

21K gold price in UAE today vs 22K and 18K

The useful number is not the rate on its own but the gap between grades. On 16 October 2026, 22K cost AED 463.75 per gram, 21K cost AED 444.50 and 18K cost AED 381.00. So stepping down from 22K to 21K saves AED 19.25 per gram, while stepping down again to 18K saves a further AED 63.50 per gram.

The step from 22K to 21K is small, roughly 4 per cent, and you keep a very similar colour. The step to 18K is much bigger in money, but you get noticeably paler gold. Compare the live 22K rate and 18K rate on the day, because the gaps move with the market.

Over the 30 days to 16 October 2026, 24K fell AED 25.50 per gram. It traded between a high of AED 527.75 and a low of AED 492.75. Over the same 30 days, 22K fell AED 23.50 per gram.

The table below converts the 16 October per-gram rates into the weights people actually buy. These figures cover gold value only. Making charges and 5 per cent VAT come on top.

Is a 21K gold ring durable enough for daily wear?

Pure gold is soft, and the other metals in an alloy are what give it strength. 21K has 12.5 per cent alloy against about 8.4 per cent in 22K. That makes a 21k gold ring a little harder and more scratch-resistant than the same ring in 22K, which is one reason many wedding bands and everyday rings in the Gulf are made in 21K.

It is still softer than 18K, which is 25 per cent alloy. If a ring holds diamonds or other stones in claw settings, 18K grips them more securely over years of wear. For plain bands, signet rings and chunky designs, 21K is a sensible middle ground. You get colour close to 22K with a bit more toughness.

Here is a worked example for a 6 g plain 21K ring on 16 October 2026. The making charge is an illustrative figure only, because real charges vary by shop and design.

Our guide to making charges explains how shops quote them and where you have room to negotiate.

• Gold value: 6 g x AED 444.50 = AED 2,667.00
• Making charge (illustrative, AED 30 per gram): AED 180.00
• Subtotal: AED 2,847.00
• VAT at 5 per cent on the full subtotal: AED 142.35
• Total: AED 2,989.35

21K gold necklace sets with price in Dubai: a worked example

Necklace sets are where the 21K versus 22K choice matters most, because the weight is high. Take a 40 g set, a typical mid-weight bridal or occasion piece. Again, the making charge of AED 40 per gram is illustrative. Intricate handmade sets often cost more, and simple machine-made chains less.

In 21K, the gold value is AED 17,780.00 and the making charge adds AED 1,600.00, giving AED 19,380.00. VAT adds AED 969.00, so the total is AED 20,349.00. The same set in 22K comes to AED 18,550.00 plus AED 1,600.00, which is AED 20,150.00, and VAT takes it to AED 21,157.50.

Choosing 21K saves AED 808.50 on this set at the 16 October 2026 rates. Over a full wedding order of several sets, that gap becomes significant. The trade-off is slightly less gold for your money and, for some families, a preference for 22K for traditional reasons. For a fuller picture of 22K sets, see our 22K necklace sets price guide.

If you are comparing prices at home, 21K at AED 444.50 per gram works out to about INR 11,495 at 1 AED = 25.86 INR. That is a straight currency conversion before making charges, VAT and any import duty.

Does 21K gold hold its value at resale?

When you sell or exchange gold in the UAE, the shop values it by weight and purity at the day's buying rate for that grade. A 21K piece is paid on the 21K rate, not the 22K rate. The gold content therefore tracks the market just as 22K does, scaled to its 87.5 per cent purity.

What you do not get back are the making charges and the VAT you paid. Shops also usually deduct something from the day's rate when they buy back. How much varies, so ask for the deduction in writing and compare two or three shops. This is why heavy, plain 21K pieces with low making charges hold value best, while intricate designs lose more of their purchase price when sold.

Keep your invoice. A receipt that shows weight, purity (875 or 21K) and the shop's details makes a resale or exchange smoother. Our gold resale guide walks through the process step by step.

How to check a 21K piece before you pay

A few minutes at the counter protects you from the most common mistakes. Work through this list on your phone while the jeweller weighs the piece.

• Find the 875 or 21K stamp, and ask where it is if you cannot see it.
• Watch the piece being weighed on the shop's scale, and note the weight to two decimal places.
• Check that the quoted gold rate matches that day's official 21K rate.
• Ask for the making charge as a separate line, either per gram or as a total.
• Confirm VAT is 5 per cent of gold value plus making charge, not more.
• Get an invoice showing weight, purity, rate, making charge and VAT.
• If you are a tourist, ask the shop to register the purchase for the Planet tax-free refund.