The Dubai Gold Exchange intends to launch the first spot gold contract in the region

The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange will launch a same-day (T+0) spot gold contract next Monday (June 22). This contract represents the first spot gold product with actual settlement on the same day on a regulated exchange in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Thus, Dubai joins a limited number of global markets that provide this mechanism. The contract will be available for trading on the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange starting next Monday.

Through this contract, the exchange aims to meet the growing demand for faster settlement, higher price certainty, and greater operational efficiency in trading physical gold. The product combines, within one framework, the execution of trades on the stock exchange platform, central counterparty clearing, and physical settlement, giving market participants a regulated alternative to traditional over-the-counter transactions.

This step is gaining importance as the needs of global bullion markets change, as participants search for settlement mechanisms that keep pace with the speed of actual gold trading. Many products traded on exchanges continue to rely on settlement cycles that extend into the next day or more. The new contract allows participants to execute, clear and settle physical gold transactions on the same day, reducing operational complexities and improving capital utilization.
The spot gold contract (T+0) is based on 1 kg gold according to the UAE Good Delivery standard, and is settled in UAE dirhams. All transactions are cleared by Dubai Commodities Clearing Company, which enables counterparty risk management and enhances settlement certainty, while actual delivery is carried out through an approved treasury network.

Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange, said: “Dubai is one of the most prominent global centers for trading in physical gold, through which significant flows of bullion move between East and West. As the size of the market expands, participants increasingly need fast, efficient and transparent mechanisms for trading and settling physical gold. The launch of the spot gold contract (T+0) from the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange represents an important step to strengthen the structure of the gold market in Dubai. The contract combines trading on the exchange’s platform and clearing. Centralization and actual settlement on the same day within an organized framework, to give participants clearer price certainty, tangible operational efficiency, and direct access to the physical delivery system. This contract also strengthens Dubai’s position in the heart of the global gold market, supports liquidity, raises the quality of price discovery, and paves the way for the establishment of a reliable standard for physical gold in the UAE.”
The contract specifically addresses bullion dealers, refiners, brokers, clearing members and institutions participating in the market. Thanks to its connection to a network of authorized vaults, the contract directly links trading activity to actual settlement, reducing the complexities associated with traditional settlement cycles.

This step complements the strong performance recorded by the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange. Total trading volumes in 2025 increased by 30% year-on-year to reach 2,048,556 contracts, while the total value of contracts traded reached 46.96 billion US dollars. Average daily trading volumes also increased to 7,940 contracts, and average open positions reached 13,015 contracts, reflecting the continued depth and flexibility of stock markets.