{
  "id": 18511053,
  "title": "Dhanteras in Dubai: Gold, silver and why shoppers still swear by tradition",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/dhanteras-in-dubai-gold-silver-and-why-shoppers-still-swear-by",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T13:33:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/dhanteras-in-dubai-gold-silver-and-why-shoppers-still-swear-by-tradition-1.500738619"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai's iconic Gold Souk witnessed a flurry of activity on Dhanteras as shoppers gathered to partake in an annual family tradition of purchasing gold and silver ahead of Diwali. The day brought together families and tourists, who browsed through jewellery stores, comparing prices and admiring marigold garlands, diyas, and Lakshmi idols adorning the arcade.\n\nShoppers had varying preferences for their purchases. Rupesh Duggal opted for a 10-gram silver bar instead of gold jewellery, emphasizing the importance of setting a budget during the festivities. He frequents wholesale stores to take advantage of reduced prices, as retail stores often include additional charges for making the jewellery. Duggal sees buying precious metals during Diwali as a family tradition, where gold, silver, sweets, and pujas are shared together.\n\nOn the other hand, Richard Quinn prefers traditional gold jewellery that can be passed down through generations. He is not interested in trendy designs and instead favors pieces worn by his parents and grandparents. Quinn believes in using gold in a traditional manner and acknowledges that it could also serve as a financial safety net for his children and future generations. He is content with walking around several stores to make a decision, but acknowledges that he cannot bargain on the gold rate itself.\n\nNamira Saiyedy, another shopper, firmly believes that physical jewellery, rather than digital gold, holds value in Gujarati households. Dhanteras is a significant occasion for her family, where they all come together to buy gold, silver, and other items. Like Duggal, Saiyedy considers market rates while deciding on her spending limit. At the Dubai Gold Souk, conversations among shoppers reflected a familiar balance between tradition and practicality, with some seeking smaller purchases, others comparing designs, and many negotiating making charges to finalize their purchases. Despite the varied reasons for shopping, Dhanteras remains an occasion that people look forward to annually in Dubai.",
  "summary": "For many shoppers at Dubai's Gold Souk, buying gold on Dhanteras is an annual auspcious family tradition, with the day bringing people together to shop for gold and silver ahead of Diwali. On Friday, the souk saw families and tourists browsing its jewellery stores, with shopkeepers calling out to passers-by and shoppers comparing prices across the arcade while marigold garlands, diyas and Lakshmi…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}