MoET Supplemental Guidance DPMS Gold Purity

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET) supplemental guidance for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones (DPMS) sets the minimum gold purity threshold at 500 parts per 1,000 for a business to fall within the DPMS regulatory definition. Silver requires a minimum of 800 parts per 1,000. Below these thresholds, the item is not treated as a precious metal for UAE anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing purposes, which changes the compliance obligations that apply.

ADS AUDITORS works with jewellery retailers, bullion traders, refiners, and precious stone dealers across Dubai and Abu Dhabi to interpret these thresholds correctly and apply them to day-to-day transactions, customer due diligence, and reporting.

Purity thresholds that trigger DPMS status

The MoET guidance does not use carat terminology. It uses parts per 1,000, the fineness scale used in bullion markets and UAE regulatory texts.

A 10 carat gold item, at roughly 417 parts per 1,000, sits below the threshold. A 14 carat item, at roughly 585 parts per 1,000, sits above it. That distinction determines whether a sale, purchase, or trade is captured by DPMS obligations at all.

The guidance also covers precious stones, including diamonds, where purity thresholds do not apply in the same way but where the same transaction and reporting framework governs dealers.

Why the purity threshold matters in practice

The threshold decides whether a business is a DPMS, and that status carries the full weight of UAE Federal AML/CFT/CPF legislation and Cabinet Decisions.

Businesses dealing in gold at or above 500 parts per 1,000 must maintain an AML Policy Framework, conduct customer due diligence, screen against targeted financial sanctions, and file reports through goAML. A trader dealing only in low-purity gold below the threshold may still be a DNFBP for other reasons, but the DPMS-specific obligations do not automatically attach.

The transaction reporting trigger sits at AED 55,000. When a cash or wire transaction reaches or exceeds that amount, the dealer must file a Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Report through the goAML portal, regardless of whether the customer appears suspicious. This is a threshold report, not a suspicion-based report.

Common mistakes dealers make

A recurring error is assuming all gold jewellery is automatically within scope. Jewellery below 500 parts per 1,000 falls outside the DPMS definition for that metal, but mixed inventory is common. A shop selling both 10 carat and 18 carat pieces must separate its obligations by item, not by shop.

Another mistake is treating the AED 55,000 threshold as the only trigger. The threshold creates a mandatory reporting obligation, but suspicious transaction reporting applies at any amount. A transaction of AED 20,000 in high-purity gold with no apparent economic purpose can still require a suspicious transaction report.

Some dealers also overlook that the purity threshold applies to the metal content, not the item’s retail value or design. A gold-plated item with minimal gold content does not become a DPMS product simply because it looks like jewellery.

How the guidance connects to wider AML obligations

The MoET supplemental guidance sits within the UAE’s broader DNFBP regulatory framework. DPMS businesses are supervised for AML/CFT compliance and must complete an EWRA, or Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment, to identify and document their money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

AML Registration is not a standalone process in the UAE, but businesses must establish their compliance framework, appoint a compliance officer, and ensure their AML Policy Framework reflects the specific risks of precious metals and stones. Staff handling high-value transactions need AML Training so they can recognise red flags such as customers buying large quantities of high-purity gold with no clear source of funds or business rationale.

The guidance also connects to the UAE National Risk Assessment, which identifies gold as a high-risk sector because of its density, portability, and liquidity. Dealers who understand the purity thresholds and apply them consistently are better positioned to defend their compliance decisions during supervisory reviews.

Practical steps for dealers

Review your inventory and classify every product line by metal purity. Document the classification so staff can apply it consistently at the point of sale.

Check whether your transaction monitoring captures the AED 55,000 threshold across cash and wire payments, including split transactions that may be structured to avoid reporting.

Ensure your customer due diligence records capture the metal type and purity for each transaction, not just the invoice value. Supervisors look for evidence that the dealer understood what was being traded.

If your business handles both DPMS and non-DPMS products, maintain clear internal guidance on which obligations apply to each transaction. Mixed handling without documentation is a common source of compliance findings.

ADS AUDITORS supports DPMS businesses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with compliance reviews, AML Policy Framework development, EWRA preparation, and AML Training tailored to the precious metals and stones sector.