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Dubai Travellers Can Hand-Carry Gold — As Long As the Paperwork Checks Out

Industry leaders say hand-carrying gold is fine, but stronger checks and clearer rules are needed to stop illicit trade.

  • Publish date: Thursday، 27 November 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
Dubai Travellers Can Hand-Carry Gold — As Long As the Paperwork Checks Out

At this year’s Dubai Precious Metals Conference, experts made one thing clear: carrying gold through airports shouldn’t be treated like a crime — as long as it’s legal and properly documented.

Executives said the issue isn’t the act of hand-carrying itself, but the lack of a unified global standard on how much is “reasonable” to bring in.

How Much Gold Is Too Much?

David Tait, CEO of the World Gold Council, said opinions on acceptable quantities vary wildly across countries. Some travelers carry small amounts, while others show up with suitcases or kilos of jewelry.

He explained that the goal isn’t to police people’s lifestyles but to establish a baseline that can help stop illegal gold movement. According to Tait, this could even tie into airline policies and customs alignment across countries.

Why Standard Rules Are Needed

The World Gold Council and governments globally are already discussing a unified formula for how gold should be declared and transported.

Some countries have efficient detection systems, while others don’t. That’s why stronger documentation checks and cooperation between departure and arrival ports are being pushed — especially to confirm origin and ensure taxes are properly paid.

It’s About Controls, Not Quantity

Industry voices echoed the same message: gold itself isn’t the danger — it’s the money trail.
Abidh CP of Ahlatci Metal Refinery said the real focus should be on verifying that payments go to the right beneficiaries. With proper rules, whether a traveler carries one kilo or a hundred doesn’t matter.

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