Gold Rate Today in Saudi Arabia
The live table shows the gold rate in Saudi Arabia in riyals per gram for 24K, 22K, 21K and 18K, and for common bar sizes. It is the world price at the fixed riyal rate; jewellers add making charges and 15% VAT, while investment gold of 99% purity or more is zero-rated.
Live gold rate in Saudi Arabia (SAR)
| Weight & purity | Live price |
|---|---|
| 24K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 22K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 21K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 18K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 21K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 24K gold · 1 tola | live |
| 24K gold · 1 troy ounce | live |
| 24K gold · 100 grams | live |
International parity from XAUUSD × USD/SAR (the riyal is pegged at 3.75 per dollar). Retail premiums, making charges and VAT are extra. How we calculate
How the Saudi gold rate is formed
The Saudi riyal is pegged to the US dollar at 3.75, so the price of gold in riyals is simply the dollar price multiplied by 3.75 and scaled for weight and karat. Jewellers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and the holy cities post daily rates per gram, typically for 24K, 22K, 21K and 18K, close to the parity figures above plus a small margin. The kingdom also mines gold domestically, but that output is sold at international prices and does not change the retail rate.
21K: the Saudi standard
Most traditional Saudi jewellery is made in 21K (87.5% gold), which balances a rich yellow colour with enough hardness for heavy bangles and necklaces worn regularly. 18K is used for diamond and designer pieces, 22K is sold mainly to South Asian residents, and 24K is bought as bars and coins.
| Karat | Gold content | Typical use in Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | Bars, coins, savings |
| 22K | 91.6% | South Asian styles |
| 21K | 87.5% | Traditional Saudi and bridal jewellery |
| 18K | 75% | Diamond and designer pieces |
VAT on gold in Saudi Arabia
- Jewellery is subject to VAT at 15% on the selling price, making charge included.
- Investment gold (bars, ingots and coins of 99% purity or more, traded at market value) is zero-rated.
The difference is large: on the same amount of gold, jewellery carries 15% tax on top of making charges, while a 99.9% bar does not. This is one reason many Saudi buyers who want to save rather than wear gold choose bars.
Worked example: jewellery versus a bar
Illustrative only. Suppose 21K is SAR 437.80 per gram, 24K is SAR 500.35 per gram, and the making charge is SAR 10 per gram.
| Item | Calculation | SAR |
|---|---|---|
| 21K bracelet, 25 g | 25 × 437.80 | 10,945.00 |
| Making charge | 25 × 10.00 | 250.00 |
| VAT at 15% | 15% × 11,195.00 | 1,679.25 |
| Bracelet total | 12,874.25 | |
| 100 g 24K bar | 100 × 500.35, zero-rated | 50,035.00 |
The bar would also carry a small dealer premium. Run your own numbers in the jewellery price calculator.
Where people buy
Every large Saudi city has traditional gold souks in its older districts as well as jewellery chains in malls. Pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah are significant buyers in Makkah and Madinah, where jewellery shops cluster near the holy mosques and gold is a common gift to take home. Expatriate workers often buy 22K jewellery or tola bars to send or carry home, and compare the price with our India, Pakistan and Bangladesh pages.
Selling or exchanging gold
Saudi jewellers buy back gold at the day's rate for its karat minus a deduction, and the making charge and VAT you paid are not refunded. Exchanging old 21K pieces for new ones at the same shop usually earns a smaller deduction than selling for cash, and an invoice from the original purchase makes the transaction quicker. Pieces with stones are valued on net gold weight after the stones are removed or estimated. Because the 15% VAT on new jewellery is not recovered on resale, gold bought as a store of value loses more on a round trip in Saudi Arabia than in neighbouring Qatar or Kuwait. Our selling guide covers testing and negotiation.
Checklist
- Compare the shop's 21K rate with the parity line in the table.
- Ask the making charge per gram before weighing, and whether it is negotiable.
- Make sure the invoice shows karat, weight, rate, making charge and VAT separately.
- For bars, confirm 99%+ purity so the VAT zero rate applies, and check the refiner's stamp.
- Check your home country's customs rules if you are taking gold abroad.