Travelling with Silver to and from the UAE
The UAE sets no silver limit for travellers. Personal jewellery is duty-free, and gifts and other new goods are duty-free up to AED 3,000 in total. Every traveller entering or leaving must declare cash, negotiable instruments and precious metals and stones worth more than AED 60,000 in total; UAE law defines precious metals as gold, silver, platinum and platinum-group metals, so silver counts towards that limit. Investment silver of 99% purity or more is reported to be zero-rated for VAT.
Reviewed October 2026 from official sources (listed below). Rules change — check with customs before you travel.
Estimate
Valued at today's silver price. The figure shows whether your silver alone reaches the AED 60,000 declaration threshold; cash and gold you carry count too. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Silver Allowance in UAE
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Any traveller: jewellery you own and use | Duty-free, no weight limit | Personal jewellery is among exempt personal effects. Declare it if it brings your cash and precious metals above AED 60,000. |
| Any traveller: gifts and new purchases | Up to AED 3,000 in total | Above that, customs duty plus VAT apply to the excess. |
| Silver bars and coins | Declare above AED 60,000 with your cash and other valuables | Investment silver of 99%+ purity in a form traded on bullion markets is reported to be zero-rated for VAT. The customs duty on silver bullion was not confirmed. |
| Children under 18 | Same rules | Cash and valuables carried by an under-18 are added to the accompanying adult's AED 60,000 limit. |
Does silver count towards the AED 60,000 limit?
Yes. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) requires travellers to declare "cash and the equivalent of negotiable financial instruments, precious metals and stones" worth more than AED 60,000. UAE Federal Law No. 11 of 2015 defines precious metals as gold, silver, platinum and platinum-group metals. At today's price a few kilos of silver can reach the limit on their own.
Declare through the Afseh app or ICP website before you travel, or to customs at the port. Amounts carried by children under 18 are added to the accompanying adult's total.
Taking silver from Dubai to India, Pakistan or the UK
Silver is cheaper in Dubai than in India because India adds import duty, but the arrival country's rules decide what you pay. India allows only the shared 40 g / 20 g jewellery allowance duty-free, and the UK charges 20% VAT on silver bars above the £390 allowance. See the page for your destination before you buy.
Silver price in UAE today
Live rates →| Fine silver (999) | AED 63.87 / 10 g | AED 6,387 / kg |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling (925) | AED 59.14 / 10 g | AED 5,914 / kg |
Bringing Silver to the UAE: FAQ
How much is 1 kg of silver worth in the UAE today?
About AED 6,387 for 1 kg of fine (999) silver at the international price converted to AED (Oct 26, 2026, 15:35 UTC). Customs use their own notified or assessed value, and shops charge more, so treat this as an estimate.
How much silver can I take out of Dubai?
There is no limit, but you must declare silver, gold, cash and precious stones worth more than AED 60,000 in total when you leave.
Is silver a precious metal for the UAE declaration?
Yes. UAE law defines precious metals as gold, silver, platinum and platinum-group metals, and the declaration covers precious metals.
Is there VAT on silver bars in the UAE?
Investment silver of at least 99% purity, in a form traded on bullion markets, is reported to be zero-rated for VAT. Silver jewellery pays 5% VAT.
Silver Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: ICP: travellers must disclose cash, precious metals and stones over AED 60,000 · u.ae: customs clearance for tourists · UAE Federal Law No. 11 of 2015 on precious metals and stones (definition) · Dubai Customs: iDeclare app for travellers · Filings.ae: VAT on investment precious metals in the UAE. Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: silver price in UAE · gold allowance for UAE · where silver is cheapest.