UAE-India trade pact: Dubai's gold sector to get boost from tax cut

Import duties, previously at five per cent, have been scrapped for jewellery exported to the UAE from India under the agreement

The Gold Souk in Deira on the banks of the Dubai Creek. An agreement between the UAE and India is expected to boost trade in gold, benefitting jewellers and shoppers. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National

Chandu Siroya, managing director of Siroya Jewellers, says the UAE India trade pact is a win-win for both countries.

Import duties have been removed for jewellery exported to the UAE from India.

India has agreed to a one per cent concession on duty on gold imports from the UAE for up to 120 tonnes of gold in the first year, rising to 200 tonnes in five years.

The UAE accounts for 80 per cent of India’s plain gold jewellery exports and 20 per cent of studded jewellery exports.

Some of the jewellery from India, Italy and Turkey on display at Siroya Jewellers in Dubai.

A jeweller examines a necklace at Siroya Jewellers in Dubai.

Dubai is set to become a major gateway for Indian jewellery to the world, because of the economic agreement.

The family-owned Siroya Jewellers is one of Dubai’s biggest wholesalers, supplying jewellery to more than 30 countries.

Gem and jewellery exports to the UAE declined to US$1.18 billion in 2020-2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the duty waiver, India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council has said exports of gold from India to the UAE are expected to grow to US$10 billion in 2023.

Jewellery companies in the UAE and India are set to gain from a key trade agreement that comes into effect on Sunday.

Sweeping changes will be introduced under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February and jewellers are upbeat because the rules for importing gold bars from the UAE and jewellery from India have been overhauled.

Import duties, previously at five per cent, have been scrapped for jewellery exported to the UAE from India under the pact.

This will give Indian jewellers zero-duty access to the UAE market.

India has agreed to a one per cent concession on duty on gold imports from the UAE for up to 120 tonnes of gold in the first year, rising to 200 tonnes in five years.

The Indian government has said this gives the export of gold bars or bullion from the UAE a significant advantage “in perpetuity” compared to the tariff India charges the rest of the world.

Analysts and jewellers told The National that Dubai would emerge as a major gateway for Indian jewellery to markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

The new trade pact is also expected to help India become attractive as a manufacturing hub for jewellery with more global brands likely to make the country their production base.

India is among the world’s top consumers of gold and imports about 800 tonnes of gold every year.

The country imported about 70 tonnes of gold from the UAE in 2020-21.

Jewellery gateway to the world

Chandu Siroya, managing director of Siroya Jewellers, was optimistic about the outlook for the sector.

“Jewellery is about aspiration, emotion. Dubai is known as the city of gold. For anybody who comes to the UAE, gold is high on their wish list,” said Mr Siroya, who is also vice chairman of the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group.

“Dubai is a jewellery destination of the world and jewellers from all over the globe come to Dubai to source their jewellery.

“When I can offer Indian jewellery at a competitive price, why will jewellers go to another country.

“It will be a win-win for both the UAE and India.”

Inside the company’s wholesale office in Dubai’s Deira Gold Souk, staff laid out glinting jewellery sets in white trays and arranged sparkling diamonds in rows.

The family-owned business is one of Dubai’s biggest wholesalers, supplying jewellery to more than 30 countries.

It will soon open a third retail store in the UAE.

“We import jewellery from everywhere,” Mr Siroya said

“This trade agreement with India is fantastic because it will enhance the UAE’s position.

“Now a lot more Indian jewellery will be routed through Dubai because there will be no additional duty and this will lead to a further increase in business.

“If a person living in America wants to buy Indian jewellery, in which other country will he also get jewellery made in Turkey, Singapore, Italy, Germany and the Far East all under one roof in half a square kilometre.”

He was referring to Dubai’s Gold Souk where visitors from around the world walk on narrow paths browsing shop windows filled with gold waistbands, delicate rings and chains studded with shinning gems.

He said global companies will be keen to set up base in India following the trade agreement.

“India has some of the best artistic handmade jewellery and also has the capacity to manufacture modern jewellery using latest technology,” Mr Siroya said.

“Many international companies will want to establish a base in India to take advantage of the Middle East market. They can produce in India for the local market and also export to Dubai.”

Bright future

The trade deal has been hailed as a new phase of strategic co-operation that would boost non-oil trade between the two nations to $100 billion in five years, from the current $60 billion.

India’s commerce secretary B V R Subrahmanyam has said the gem and jewellery sector is enthusiastic about the partnership.

“We have given them [UAE] a TRQ [tariff rate quota] of 200 tonnes where the tariff [or import duty] in perpetuity will be one per cent less than whatever is the tariff charged for the rest of the world," he told media in India in February.

"UAE becomes a very big entry point for us to enter the rest of the world, Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia."

Small business will flourish

Surendra Mehta, national secretary of India Bullion and Jewellers Association, said exports to the UAE will soar.

“We might see more than 100 per cent increase in jewellery export in the coming years,” he said.

“For Indian exports this is an excellent initiative. It will open the floodgates for export.”

The move will also open the door for smaller gold businesses in India eager to reach larger markets.

“This will be a perfect entry point for Indian handmade jewellery that can see a very big market through Dubai,” Mr Mehta said.

“It was difficult for Indian small businessmen to look for importers in other countries but with Dubai it becomes very easy. It’s a big gold market, it’s near India and people are comfortable trading there.

“So if somebody wants to cater to the US or UK market then Dubai is the right gateway.”

The UAE accounts for 80 per cent of India’s plain gold jewellery exports and 20 per cent of studded jewellery exports.

Gem and jewellery exports to the UAE declined to US$1.18 billion in 2020-2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the duty waiver, India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council has expressed confidence exports of plain gold jewellery and gold studded jewellery from India to the UAE would grow to US$10 billion in 2023.