Emirates Gold was founded in 1992 in Dubai by Mohamad Shakarchi, a Swiss-Lebanese precious-metals entrepreneur who settled in the UAE specifically to build a gold and silver refinery serving the Middle East market. The refinery became the first in the Middle East to earn Dubai Good Delivery (DGD) accreditation in 2005, and followed with LBMA Affiliate Member status in 2007. Following Shakarchi's death, the company changed hands in early 2022, and was acquired again in September 2024 by Bright East Holding, an entity licensed within the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
As one of the largest refiners in the Middle East, Emirates Gold occupies a similar regional-anchor role to Rand Refinery in Africa or Istanbul Gold Refinery in Turkey — a credible, accredited alternative to the Swiss majors for buyers specifically interested in Gulf-region sourcing. Its recent ownership changes (2022 and again 2024) are worth knowing for buyers who weight corporate stability and continuity heavily when evaluating a refiner's bars.
Log weight, purity, and purchase price alongside your coins, with live valuation — one place for the whole collection.
Start tracking freeMohamad Shakarchi, a Swiss-Lebanese precious-metals entrepreneur, founded it in 1992 in Dubai specifically to serve the Middle East gold and silver market.
Yes — it became the first refinery in the Middle East accredited with Dubai Good Delivery (DGD) status in 2005, followed by LBMA Affiliate Member status in 2007.
Yes — following founder Mohamad Shakarchi's death, the company changed hands in early 2022, then was acquired again in September 2024 by Bright East Holding.