Gold Hallmark in the UAE: How to Read 916, 750 and 999 Stamps

Gold rings and bangles in a jewellery shop window

Every piece of gold you buy from a licensed shop in Dubai should carry a hallmark, a small stamp that shows its purity. Knowing how to read it protects you from paying for a higher karat than you get, and makes the piece easier to sell later.

What is a gold hallmark?

A hallmark is a stamp on the piece that shows the gold's purity. In Dubai, gold sold by licensed retailers must carry a hallmark approved by Dubai Central Laboratory, part of Dubai Municipality. The hallmark usually includes:

The karat, written in karats (such as 22K) or as a number (such as 916).
The manufacturer's mark.
A certification number.

What 999, 916, 875 and 750 mean

The number tells you how many parts of pure gold there are in 1,000 parts of metal. Both karat marks and number marks are recognised in the UAE:

Karat	Fineness stamp	Gold content
24K	999	99.9%
22K	916	91.6%
21K	875	87.5%
18K	750	75%

You may also see less common stamps such as 958 (23K), 585 (14K) and 375 (9K).

Where to find the stamp

Rings: inside the band.
Bracelets and bangles: near the clasp.
Necklaces and chains: near the clasp or on the small end ring.
Pendants: on the back.

The stamp is tiny, so ask the seller for a loupe or ask them to point it out.

Bareeq certification

Bareeq is a certification awarded by Dubai Central Laboratory to retailers that meet its quality standards. Seeing its logo in a shop is an extra sign of trust, but it does not replace checking the stamp and the invoice.

What to check before you pay

The stamp on the piece, and that it matches the karat on the invoice.
A detailed invoice with weight, karat, gram rate, making charge, VAT, the shop's name and the date. Read how gold jewellery is priced in Dubai.
Some shops offer a free purity test with an XRF machine, so ask for one.
Be wary of deals that look too cheap, as they may be for under-karat pieces.
Keep your invoice and certificate for resale or exchange. Read selling gold in Dubai.

A hallmark is a strong sign of purity, but not the only safeguard: buy from a reputable shop, in the Deira Gold Souk or a mall, and check the exchange and return policy. Before you walk in, check today's gold rate in Dubai.