Gold has always held a special place in the UAE, both culturally and financially. Whether you're looking to hedge against inflation, diversify beyond cash savings, or simply start building a position in gold, a Gold Account in the UAE offers a clean, accessible, and Shariah-compliant route to do it.
Through our EI + App, you can buy, sell and redeem gold at live market prices, with your holdings backed by physically allocated, certified gold bars held in high-security vaults.
What is Digital Gold in the UAE
Through the EI + App, you can now buy, sell and redeem gold seamlessly via your mobile or online banking platform at live interbank market prices. Your gold is denominated using the currency code XAU, the international designation for gold priced in troy ounces, and all transactions are settled at the prevailing spot rate.
The gold you hold sits in high-security vaults, fully allocated to your account. For Shariah compliance, this structure matters enormously. Gold is classified as a Ribawi asset in Islamic jurisprudence, which means any transaction involving it must occur on a spot basis with full counter-value settlement and clear, physical backing.
Our digital gold product meets these conditions precisely. We are licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, and our gold bars meet both London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and Dubai Good Delivery (DGD) standards, sourced from globally certified refiners PAMP and Valcambi.
How gold investment work
You can buy sell and redeem anytime through the EI + App, giving you flexibility that aligns with fast-moving gold markets. Funds for purchases are drawn from your linked Emirates Islamic current or savings account, and sale proceeds are credited back to the same account in AED.
Buying gold through your account
Buying and selling gold through your Emirates Islamic account follows a simple digital journey.
- Log in to the EI + App
- Navigate to the Wealth tab
- Select gold (or silver) as your chosen metal
- Complete the guided purchase flow, confirming the amount and live price
- Monitor your holdings; track live prices; and redeem, and sell whenever you choose
Holding and monitoring your gold
Once you have bought gold, your holdings are displayed in the EI + App, showing your position in grams, current value in AED, and live price movement. You can track, redeem, or sell your holdings anytime through the app. The physical gold backing your account is held in high-security vaults.
Selling gold and converting to cash
When you are ready to realise your investment, you have three options, which sets our offering apart from most digital gold products on the market:
| Redemption option |
How it works |
| Full cash redemption |
Sell your entire holding; proceeds credited to your linked account in AED |
| Partial cash redemption |
Sell a portion of your holding and retain the rest |
| Physical bar delivery |
Request delivery of physical gold bars at any time |
The ability to take physical delivery of gold bars is a genuine rarity in digital gold products. Most platforms offer cash only. We offer complete flexibility.
Selling spreads and fund availability timeframes are set out in the Redemption Terms and Conditions, which we recommend reviewing before placing a sell order.
Who can buy Digital Gold in the UAE
Our digital gold investment product is available to UAE residents, whether UAE nationals or expatriates. To access it, you will need:
- An active Emirates Islamic current or savings account (this is a prerequisite for all wealth investment products)
- A valid passport with your UAE residence visa page
- Your original Emirates ID
If you are not yet a customer with us, you can open a current account through the EI + App or our Online Banking platform. The current account requires a minimum salary threshold, and once active, you can access the Wealth tab immediately.
For full eligibility conditions, please refer to the Gold Subscription Terms and Conditions.
Benefits of digital gold investment
Here is why more UAE residents are choosing a gold investment over physical gold or conventional savings products:
| Benefit |
What it means for you |
| Diversification |
Adds a non-currency, tangible asset to your savings mix |
| No physical handling |
No storage, no Takaful, no risk of theft |
| Shariah-compliant |
Structured to meet Islamic finance principles on Shariah-compliant (Ribawi) assets |
| Low entry point |
Start small and build your position over time |
| Liquidity |
Buy and sell anytime through the EI + App |
| Certified quality |
LBMA and DGD-certified gold from PAMP and Valcambi refiners |
| Inflation protection |
Gold acts as a hedge when currency values come under pressure |
Fees and costs
Transparency on cost matters, so here is what to expect before you invest:
- Buy/sell spread: A margin is applied to the published spot price when you buy and sell.
- Opening fee: Check the Emirates Islamic Schedule of Charges for current account and investment access fees.
- Holding/storage fees: Details on any ongoing holding charges are set out in the Schedule of Charges and the Gold Subscription Terms and Conditions.
- Currency conversion: If you fund your account in a currency other than AED, standard conversion rates apply.
Shariah compliance and ethical investment
We are the first Islamic bank in the UAE to offer gold and silver investment, with a commitment to make Shariah-compliant investing accessible at scale.
Gold's status as a Ribawi asset means the transaction must occur on a spot basis (immediate settlement, no deferred exchange), and the gold must be physically backed and clearly allocated to the buyer. Our digital gold product meets both conditions. You own a specific, allocated quantity of physically certified gold, held in secure vaults, with no profit element anywhere in the structure.
How to get started with Digital Gold
Getting started requires three steps:
- Confirm your Emirates Islamic account: You need an active current or savings account before accessing gold investments. If you are a new customer, open one through the EI + App or our Online Banking platform.
- Access the Wealth tab: Log in to the EI + App, go to the Wealth tab, and select gold as your chosen metal.
- Complete your first purchase: Follow the guided digital flow, review the live price and applicable spread, and confirm your amount, and your gold position is live.
For a full list of required documents, visit our account opening help page. The Key Product Information document is also available for review at any time on our wealth management information page.
As the first Islamic bank in the UAE to offer digital gold investment, we have built a product that combines that opportunity with Shariah compliance, low minimum investment, and three redemption pathways, including physical bar delivery.
