How much gold can you bring to India from Dubai?

Bringing jewellery to India from overseas has become easier after the government changed baggage rules this year. Under the New Baggage Rules 2026, the earlier value limit on jewellery carried by travellers has been removed, while the weight limit continues.

The rule change came into effect on February 2 after being announced in the Union Budget 2026. The move could benefit many Indian travellers returning from global gold hubs such as Dubai, where gold is often cheaper than in India.

How much gold can you bring to India from Dubai?

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Under the new rules, eligible passengers returning to India after staying abroad for more than one year can bring jewellery duty-free based only on weight limits.

The limits are:

Women: Up to 40 grams of jewellery

Others: Up to 20 grams of jewellery

Earlier, these limits were also linked to a value cap. Now travellers can bring jewellery within the weight limit regardless of its price.

What were the earlier rules?

Under the Baggage Rules 2016, passengers staying abroad for more than one year could bring jewellery duty-free only within both weight and value limits.

The limits were:

20 grams up to Rs 50,000 for male passengers

40 grams up to Rs 1 lakh for female passengers

These guidelines were mentioned in the Customs Guide for Travellers 2016.

Why the rule change matters now

Gold prices have risen sharply since the earlier rules were framed in 2016. At that time, gold was trading near Rs 30,000 per 10 grams in India. The value cap had therefore become restrictive for passengers bringing jewellery.

The removal of the value limit now allows travellers to bring jewellery up to the weight limit even if prices are much higher.

Why Dubai gold may look attractive

Gold buying in Dubai has recently gained attention due to price discounts. The discount has emerged after flight disruptions linked to the Iran–Israel conflict affected gold shipments from the region.

Market expert and Director of Kedia Advisory, Ajay Kedia said gold in Dubai is currently trading at a discount of about $15–18 per ounce because of the war-related disruptions.

Is this the right time to buy gold?

According to Kedia, global markets are currently under pressure due to the sharp sell-off in equities. This has also created short-term weakness in gold prices.

He said gold may see some temporary decline. Technically, support is seen near $4,650, while resistance remains around $5,300. Investors may wait for a pullback before making fresh purchases.

Will the Iran conflict push gold prices higher?

Kedia said that, at present, most asset classes look weak as global markets react to geopolitical uncertainty.

However, conflicts in the region often support gold prices over the medium term because investors typically move to safe-haven assets during periods of uncertainty.

Physical gold vs ETFs: what investors should do

For long-term investors, Kedia said systematic investment plans in gold and silver ETFs can be a good option.

He added that while short-term momentum looks weak, gold ETFs may be better suited for long-term investing compared with buying physical gold, as they are easier to accumulate gradually and track market prices closely.