UAE now lets users buy gold, silver at ATM
- ByStartupStory | November 30, 2025
World’s First Fintech-Enabled Gold ATMs Debut At Almas Tower, 35-40 Units Planned For 2026
The United Arab Emirates has unveiled the world’s first fintech-enabled Gold ATMs, allowing users to purchase physical gold and silver bars 24/7 using e-wallets or credit cards. Launched by Emirates Gold, a leading UAE precious metals refinery, in partnership with Malaysia’s Public Gold, the initiative bridges digital payments with instant bullion dispensing. The first machine will be installed at Almas Tower in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers, with plans to deploy 35-40 units across high-traffic locations nationwide by 2026, forming the region’s largest network of its kind.
Unveiled at the Dubai Precious Metals Conference (DPMC) 2025 at Atlantis, The Palm, the launch was inaugurated by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, alongside Emirates Gold CEO Abhijit Shah and Public Gold Chief Marketing Officer Jerry Ng. Each ATM stocks over 70 designs of certified gold and silver bars in small denominations ideal for collecting, investing, or gifting. Users scan to pay, select products at live spot prices, and receive physical bullion instantly, with advanced security ensuring purity and tamper-proof transactions.
Seamless Digital-To-Physical Conversion
The smart ATMs integrate Emirates Gold’s refinery expertise—supplying secure, LBMA-accredited bullion—with Public Gold’s fintech platform for seamless operations. Customers link digital wallets or cards to withdraw from accounts holding tokenized gold, converting virtual holdings to tangible assets on demand. Future enhancements include online order collection, cryptocurrency conversion, and redemption of tokenized gold from secure vaults, further blurring lines between digital finance and physical commodities.
Shah described the launch as a “defining moment for the future of precious metals,” positioning the UAE as the “world’s most trusted physical gold hub.” Ng highlighted how the system “breaks traditional barriers,” making ownership “simpler, safer, and more accessible” amid rising retail demand for transparent, small-denomination investments. The partnership, formalized in May 2025, combines refinery logistics with ATM infrastructure, upholding stringent standards of purity and transactional integrity.
Reinforcing UAE’s Global Gold Leadership
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), established in 2002, drives this innovation as part of its mandate to solidify the UAE’s dominance in commodities trading. Home to the world’s largest urban gold souk and refining capacity exceeding 600 tonnes annually, the UAE handles 20%+ of global gold trade. These ATMs align with DMCC’s digital-to-physical infrastructure push, complementing initiatives like tokenized gold on blockchain and 24/7 testing kiosks unveiled at GITEX Global 2025.
The rollout responds to surging consumer interest in verifiable bullion amid economic uncertainty and inflation hedging. UAE gold demand hit 66 tonnes in 2024, fueled by tourists (30% of purchases) and locals seeking diversification beyond real estate and stocks. Small bars (1g-100g) now represent 40% of retail sales, up from 25% pre-2020, as millennials enter via apps like Tether Gold or Pax Gold.
Strategic Rollout And Consumer Benefits
Initial deployment targets malls, airports, souks, and business districts like Almas Tower, ensuring accessibility for residents, expats, and 18 million+ annual tourists. Machines operate round-the-clock with biometric authentication, real-time pricing synced to LBMA fixes, and instant receipts detailing weight, purity (999.9 fineness), and serial numbers. Unlike traditional dealers, ATMs eliminate haggling, counterfeiting risks, and peak-hour queues.
For institutions, bulk digital purchases link to physical delivery, streamlining treasury diversification. Retail users gain entry-level investments starting at AED 100 (~$27), democratizing access previously limited to wholesalers. Public Gold’s ecosystem enables app-based tracking, resale, or storage, creating a closed-loop gold economy.
Future Roadmap And Global Implications
By 2026, the network aims for nationwide coverage, potentially expanding to Saudi Arabia and Qatar amid GCC gold consumption topping 500 tonnes yearly. Planned crypto ramps—Bitcoin/ETH to gold swaps—tap UAE’s crypto-friendly regulations, with VARA licensing 60+ VASPs. Tokenized features could integrate with DMCC’s XDC Network, enabling fractional ownership and DeFi yields backed by physical reserves.
This positions the UAE ahead of peers: Singapore explores similar kiosks, while India’s Gold Monetization Scheme lags in retail tech. Globally, it challenges Western vending models (e.g., Germany’s Gold to Go) with superior fintech and scale. Emirates Gold eyes 100+ units by 2028, capturing 5% of UAE’s AED 200B+ annual gold market.
Economic And Innovation Context
The launch underscores UAE’s diversification beyond oil, with non-oil GDP at 75% and fintech investments hitting $2B in 2025. DMCC’s ecosystem—20,000+ firms, $200B+ trade—benefits from innovations boosting liquidity and trust. As central banks add 1,000+ tonnes yearly, retail ATMs hedge against fiat volatility, aligning with UAE’s “Year of UAE-China Partnerships” via gold corridor ties.
Challenges include vault security, price volatility hedging, and crypto integration compliance. Yet biometric/multi-factor safeguards and insurance mitigate risks, with 99.99% uptime targeted. Consumer education campaigns will promote responsible buying amid warnings on speculative hoarding.
Emirates Gold and Public Gold’s ATM revolution transforms gold from vault-locked asset to everyday currency, cementing UAE’s fintech-gold nexus. As Shah noted, it sets a “new global benchmark,” inviting investors worldwide to this accessible bullion frontier.
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