How to buy gold in Egypt, and what you really pay
The gram price you see is the metal only. When you buy, you also pay a making charge and a small hallmark tax, so the real total is higher, and it can differ from shop to shop. This short, factual guide explains what is added and how to compare the true cost. It is information only, not advice, and it never predicts where the price will go.
Last reviewed 1 September 2026
Right now, buying a 1 gram gold bar from a licensed brand adds about 1.92% to 3.84% over the spot metal price, a making charge of roughly 100 to 187 pounds per gram, across the 12 brands we survey (as surveyed 1 September 2026). See the full brand comparison
The price you see is the metal only
Gold in Egypt is quoted per gram by karat, most often 24, 21, and 18, and that quote is the metal value. It moves through the day with the global gold price and the pound, so check today's price before you go.
On top of the metal you pay a making charge (masna'ya) and a small hallmark tax (damgha). So the cheapest gram price is not always the cheapest to actually buy.
Bullion versus jewelry
Bullion (bars and coins) adds a smaller, more standard premium over the metal, set by the mint. It is the closest thing to paying the gold price itself.
Jewelry adds a making charge that the shop sets for the craftsmanship, and it varies from piece to piece and shop to shop. Two shops at the same gram price can still cost you different totals.
What the making charge and hallmark tax are
- Making charge (masna'ya): what you pay for turning metal into a piece. Standard on bullion, variable on jewelry.
- Hallmark tax (damgha): a small state stamp fee that certifies the karat.
- Ask for both as a number before you buy, so you can compare the total, not just the gram price.
How to compare the real cost
Compare the TOTAL you would pay at each seller, not the headline gram price. Ask each shop for its making charge and add the hallmark tax.
Check the day's metal price first, so you can tell how much of the total is the gold and how much is the charge. Then compare at least three licensed dealers or banks.
Common questions
Do I pay more than the gold price when I buy gold in Egypt?
Yes. The gram price is the metal only. Buying adds a making charge (masna'ya) and a small hallmark tax (damgha), so the total you pay is higher than the quoted gram price.
What is the making charge (masna'ya) on gold?
It is what you pay for the workmanship. On bullion it is a smaller, standard premium set by the mint. On jewelry the shop sets it, so it varies by piece and by shop. Ask for it as a number before you buy.
How do I find the cheapest place to buy gold?
Compare the total cost, not just the gram price: the metal plus the making charge plus the hallmark tax. Check today's metal price first, then compare at least three licensed dealers or banks.