India May Ease Gold Customs Rules for UAE NRIs
Indian finance minister signals customs overhaul amid growing demands from UAE-based NRIs over gold jewellery limits.
UAE residents travelling to India with personal gold jewellery may soon see long-awaited relief, as India’s finance minister signalled a major revamp of customs regulations following mounting concerns from non-resident Indians (NRIs).
Read More: Where To Buy Gold In Dubai and More...
India’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, recently indicated that a comprehensive reform of the customs system is being planned, describing it as her next major policy priority. Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit, she highlighted the need for simpler norms and greater transparency.
“We need to make them a lot more simplified for people to feel that it is not too tiresome, cumbersome for them to comply with the expectations and rules.”
Her comments come at a time when UAE-based NRIs are increasingly urging India to revisit duty-free gold jewellery allowances, arguing that existing limits — set in 2016 — no longer align with today’s economic reality.
Why NRIs Are Pushing for Change
Gold prices have surged sharply since the current customs rules were introduced. In India, gold is now priced at nearly Rs13,000 per gram, compared to around Dh508 per gram in Dubai, making the existing allowances increasingly impractical for long-term expatriates.
Under current Indian customs regulations, men are allowed to carry 20 grams of gold jewellery worth up to Rs50,000, while women are permitted 40 grams valued at Rs1 lakh. Travellers say these limits now cover only a fraction of what they were originally intended to allow.
Once making charges are included, UAE expats point out that the effective duty-free quantity can fall by almost 70 per cent, leaving even modest personal jewellery vulnerable to questioning at airports.
Critics also argue that the rules run counter to India’s push to boost tourism, destination weddings, and cultural events, all of which traditionally involve substantial use of gold jewellery.
Rising Reports of Stressful Airport Checks
UAE-based NRI groups have formally called for clearer, more realistic guidelines, citing a growing number of complaints involving prolonged questioning, jewellery confiscation fears, and uncomfortable airport experiences.
Wedding Season Adds to Travel Anxiety
With India’s wedding season underway, thousands of UAE expats are travelling home for family celebrations. However, concerns over customs checks are prompting many to reconsider carrying real gold altogether.
For many NRIs, jewellery holds deep cultural and emotional value, particularly during weddings and religious ceremonies. Yet the fear of airport scrutiny is overshadowing the joy.
What Lies Ahead
While no immediate changes have been announced, Sitharaman’s remarks have raised hopes among UAE NRIs that India may soon modernise its gold customs framework. For now, travellers continue to wait — and worry — as calls grow louder for rules that better reflect global prices, cultural realities, and the lived experiences of expatriates.
Read More: Unveiling the Charm of Dubai Gold Souk