Gold making charges in Riyadh — known locally as Ujrah —are the single biggest variable in what you pay at any jewelry shop in the city.
Walk into any gold shop in Riyadh and you will quickly notice that two pieces of the same weight and karat are priced differently. Sometimes the gap is small — ten or fifteen riyals per gram. Other times it is significant enough to make you pause. That difference, in almost every case, comes down to making charges.
Understanding how making charges work in Riyadh’s gold market is not complicated, but it is one of those things that nobody explains clearly upfront. This guide does exactly that.
What Are Gold Making Charges in Riyadh?
Making charges — known in Arabic as Ujrah or sometimes Musanniyah — are the fees that jewelers add on top of the raw gold price to cover the cost of craftsmanship. Think of it as the labor and design fee built into your jewelry purchase.
The base gold price per gram is the same across every shop in Riyadh. It is set by the international spot market, converted to Saudi Riyals at the fixed USD/SAR peg of 3.75. No single shop in Batha, Thumairi, or any Riyadh mall has a different gold rate — they all work from the same number.
What varies is the making charge. And on a piece weighing 15 to 20 grams, that variation can translate to hundreds of riyals difference in your final bill.
How Making Charges Are Calculated
There are two common methods jewelers use:
Per gram (most common in Riyadh souks): The making charge is a fixed SAR amount multiplied by the total weight of the piece. A 15-gram necklace with a SAR 12/gram charge adds SAR 180 to the gold price.
Fixed per piece (some mall retailers): A flat fee regardless of weight — more common for small, standardized items like simple rings or stud earrings.
When shopping at Riyadh’s traditional souks, per-gram pricing is the norm, and it is also what gives you the most transparency to compare across shops.
Typical Making Charges in Riyadh — 2026 Estimates
These figures reflect prevailing norms in Riyadh’s main gold markets. Actual charges vary by shop, design, and negotiation.
| Jewelry Type | Souk Range (SAR/gram) | Mall Range (SAR/gram) |
|---|---|---|
| Plain bangles, simple chains | 8 – 12 | 15 – 22 |
| Standard rings, earrings | 12 – 18 | 18 – 28 |
| Medium-complexity necklaces | 18 – 28 | 25 – 38 |
| Bridal sets, full ornate designs | 30 – 55 | 40 – 70 |
| Imported / designer jewelry | 45 – 80+ | 50 – 100+ |
| 24K gold bars and coins | 5 – 15 (flat) | 10 – 20 (flat) |
Key point: Souk making charges are almost always negotiable on larger purchases. Mall retailer charges are largely fixed, though seasonal sales — Ramadan, Saudi National Day, post-Hajj periods — often include reduced or waived making charges on select items.
The Full Price Formula — What You Actually Pay
Many buyers focus only on the gold rate per gram. The actual price you pay has three components:
Final Price = (Gold Rate × Weight) + Making Charges + 15% VAT
Here is a worked example for a 20-gram 21K gold necklace in Riyadh:
| Component | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gold rate (21K today) | ~SAR 499/gram × 20g | SAR 9,980 |
| Making charge | SAR 20/gram × 20g | SAR 400 |
| Subtotal | SAR 10,380 | |
| VAT (15%) | SAR 10,380 × 0.15 | SAR 1,557 |
| Total | SAR 11,937 |
That VAT line — SAR 1,557 on a single necklace — is why understanding the full formula before you walk into a shop matters.
For current 21K and 22K rates in SAR, check the live Riyadh gold price page before any shopping trip.
VAT on Making Charges — The Detail Most Buyers Miss
Saudi Arabia raised VAT to 15% in July 2020. For gold purchases, it applies differently depending on what you are buying:
Gold jewelry — VAT applies to everything. The 15% is calculated on the combined total of gold value plus making charges. So a high making charge not only costs more directly — it also increases your VAT amount.
Investment gold — VAT exempt. Pure gold bars and coins at 99%+ purity (24K) are exempt from VAT when sold through licensed dealers. This exemption makes 24K bars significantly more cost-efficient for buyers whose goal is investment rather than wearing the piece.
Practical implication: If you are buying gold primarily as a store of value, the VAT difference between jewelry and bars can represent a 15% saving on your total outlay from day one.
Making Charges by Karat — Does Karat Affect the Fee?
The karat does not directly set the making charge — but there is a relationship worth understanding.
Higher-karat gold (24K, 22K) is softer and slightly more difficult to work with for intricate designs. Some jewelers charge marginally more for complex 22K pieces compared to 21K or 18K for the same design. However, in practice, most Riyadh shops apply the same making charge per gram regardless of karat for standard designs.
Where karat matters most is the base price calculation. A 10-gram 22K piece costs more in raw gold than a 10-gram 18K piece — so a flat SAR 15/gram making charge represents a smaller percentage of the total for higher-karat gold.
Can You Negotiate Making Charges in Riyadh?
At Riyadh’s traditional souks — Al-Batha, Al-Thumairi, Taibah — yes, making charges are negotiable, particularly for larger purchases or when buying multiple pieces.
A few points on how negotiation tends to work here:
The base gold rate is non-negotiable. No shop can sell you gold below the day’s market rate — it is their cost. Making charges are where the flexibility lies.
Larger weight means more negotiating room. A 30-gram bridal set has significantly more making charge to work with than a 3-gram ring. Shops have more margin to reduce on heavier pieces.
Buying multiple pieces in one transaction often unlocks better rates. If you are outfitting a bridal trousseau or buying for a wedding, bring all the purchases to one shop and negotiate as a bundle.
Mall retailers rarely negotiate. Their pricing is structured and staff typically cannot authorize changes to the listed making charge. Sales periods are your best opportunity at malls.
Red Flags to Watch For
Making charge not disclosed before weighing. Ask for the per-gram making charge before the piece is weighed. Any reputable shop should tell you upfront.
Price quoted without showing the breakdown. Always ask for the gold rate used, the weight, and the making charge separately before agreeing to the final number. A trustworthy shop will show you all three.
Weight discrepancy. Watch the scale when the piece is weighed in front of you. The weight on the scale multiplied by the gold rate plus making charge should match the quoted pre-VAT price.
High making charges on plain pieces. A simple plain bangle should not carry the same making charge as an intricate bridal set. If a shop quotes SAR 35/gram on a plain chain, compare at two or three other shops before proceeding.
A Quick Checklist Before You Buy
Before finalizing any gold jewelry purchase in Riyadh:
- Check today’s live gold rate per gram for the karat you want — Riyadh gold price page
- Ask the shop for their making charge per gram before weighing
- Confirm the piece weight on the scale yourself
- Calculate: (rate × weight) + making charges = subtotal, then add 15% for VAT
- Ask for a receipt showing karat, weight, making charge, and VAT line separately
- Check for the purity hallmark stamped on the piece: 916 for 22K, 875 for 21K, 750 for 18K
Summary
Making charges in Riyadh vary from around SAR 8/gram for simple souk pieces to SAR 80/gram or more for imported designer jewelry. The base gold rate is the same everywhere — it is the making charge, combined with 15% VAT calculated on the full total, that creates the price differences between shops.
Souk prices are negotiable, especially for heavier pieces and bundled purchases. Mall retailers offer consistency and certification at a higher making charge. And for pure investment buyers, 24K bars remain the most cost-efficient option given the VAT exemption.
Knowing these mechanics before you walk into a shop puts you in a far stronger position to evaluate what you are actually paying for.
All gold rates referenced in this article are based on live international bullion spot prices. Check the Riyadh gold price page for today’s exact SAR rates before making any purchase.