Shoppers buy gold and silver in Dubai to observe Dhanteras traditions

Families and tourists visited the Gold Souk in Dubai to purchase precious metals during Dhanteras, a traditional festival observed ahead of Diwali.

Shoppers explored jewelry stores to buy gold coins, bangles, and silver items for evening prayers. While some people chose small items, others purchased larger pieces to honor family customs. Shopkeepers engaged with passers-by as people compared prices across the arcade decorated with marigold garlands and idols of the goddess Lakshmi. Individual shoppers expressed different reasons for their purchases.

Rupesh Duggal bought a 10-gram silver bar instead of gold jewelry because his family treats buying precious metals as a tradition. He visited wholesale stores to avoid retail making charges while sticking to a set budget. Richard Quinn chose traditional chains and rings that his parents and grandparents wore, intending for his children to inherit the pieces in the future. Namira Saiyedy noted that Dhanteras holds special significance for Gujarati households.

She expressed a preference for physical jewelry over digital options. Across the market, customers balanced their desire for tradition with practical considerations, such as negotiating making charges while accepting the fixed global price of gold.