UAE Zakat Calculator Explained: Nisab, Madhab & Currency (2026)
How to calculate Zakat in the UAE: Maliki authority on jewellery, nisab in AED, gold and cash asset rules, expat considerations, and a worked dirham example for 2026.
UAE Zakat Calculator Explained: Nisab, Madhab & Currency (2026)
Zakat in the UAE is 2.5% of your total net zakatable wealth once it exceeds the nisab and has been held for a complete lunar year. The dominant scholarly authority in the UAE follows the Maliki school, which means gold and silver jewellery worn regularly as adornment is generally exempt from Zakat — a significant practical difference from the Hanafi position. Cash, investment gold, and business assets remain fully zakatable. At mid-2026 UAE gold prices, the gold nisab of 87.48 g equals approximately AED 29,000–33,000, and the silver nisab of 612.36 g equals approximately AED 2,200–2,600.
1. The Maliki Approach to Jewellery
The UAE’s official Fatwa Council (Al Iftaa) and prominent scholars align with the Maliki position on personal jewellery:
- Gold or silver jewellery worn regularly and in a reasonable quantity for personal adornment is exempt from Zakat.
- Jewellery held as investment, stored without use, or held in excess of normal adornment is zakatable.
- The test is intent and usage, not simply that the item is physically wearable.
This differs from the Hanafi school (Pakistan, UK diaspora, Turkey) where all gold and silver is zakatable. Expatriates in the UAE who follow the Hanafi madhab should continue applying Hanafi rules regardless of their country of residence.
2. Nisab in AED (2026 Estimates)
Gold and silver spot prices fluctuate daily. The values below are indicative for mid-2026 planning:
| Nisab | Weight | Approx. AED value (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold nisab | 87.48 g | AED 30,000–33,000 |
| Silver nisab | 612.36 g | AED 2,300–2,600 |
Our UAE gold calculator and UAE cash calculator fetch live AED prices via a Cloudflare-cached feed so you always see today’s threshold, not last year’s estimate.
Which nisab to use?
- Cash only, or mixed wealth (cash + gold): use the silver nisab — it is lower and more favourable to the poor.
- Investment gold only: some scholars permit using the gold nisab. When in doubt, silver nisab is the safer choice.
3. Zakatable Assets in the UAE Context
Cash and Bank Balances
All AED balances in current and savings accounts are zakatable. This includes:
- Savings accounts at conventional banks (pay on principal; consult a scholar on interest disposal)
- Islamic banking current and savings accounts
- Cash held at home in AED or other currencies
Investment Gold (Non-Jewellery)
Gold held as financial investment — gold bars, gold ETFs, gold savings accounts (e.g., ENBD Gold account, ADCB Gold) — is fully zakatable at market value, regardless of madhab.
Business Assets
- Trade inventory at market value: zakatable
- Trade receivables (expected to be collected): zakatable
- Fixed assets (commercial real estate, machinery, vehicles): generally exempt
- Shares in listed companies: most scholars apply 25–40% of market value for investment-held shares, or full value if held for trading
Real Estate
Personal residence: exempt. Investment property held for capital gain: the land/structure is generally exempt; rental income received is zakatable once held for a year. Property held explicitly for resale (developer inventory) is zakatable at market value.
4. Expat Considerations
The UAE’s workforce is roughly 90% expatriate. Key points for non-citizen residents:
- Madhab follows the individual, not the country. A Pakistani Hanafi in Dubai follows Hanafi rules; a Moroccan Maliki follows Maliki rules.
- Currency of calculation: calculate in AED (or convert all assets to AED at the spot rate on your hawl date). Pay in AED, or convert to your home currency at the same rate.
- Where to pay: You may pay Zakat locally in the UAE or remit it to your country of origin. The recipient must be genuinely eligible (poor, in debt, etc.). Sending to family in need back home is fully permissible.
- End-of-service gratuity (EOSB): Most scholars treat the vested, accessible portion of your EOSB as zakatable. The unvested portion (at employer’s discretion before service completion) is generally excluded until accessible.
5. Worked Example in AED
Scenario: UAE resident, mid-2026 hawl date, Maliki rules
| Asset | Value (AED) |
|---|---|
| Current account (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank) | AED 45,000 |
| Savings account | AED 80,000 |
| Cash at home | AED 5,000 |
| Investment gold (gold ETF units) | AED 22,000 |
| Gold jewellery worn regularly (Maliki exempt) | — exempt — |
| Gross zakatable assets | AED 152,000 |
| Short-term liabilities | Value (AED) |
|---|---|
| Credit card balance due | AED 3,500 |
| Net zakatable wealth | AED 148,500 |
Nisab check: AED 148,500 >> AED 2,400 (silver nisab) → ✅ threshold met
Zakat due: 2.5% × AED 148,500 = AED 3,712.50
6. Zakat al-Fitr vs. Zakat al-Mal
These are two distinct obligations:
- Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrana): fixed per-head charity due at the end of Ramadan, paid in food or cash equivalent (approx. AED 15–25 per person in the UAE in 2026). This is separate from the annual wealth Zakat.
- Zakat al-Mal: the annual 2.5% on accumulated wealth. This is what our calculator computes.
7. Institutional Resources in the UAE
- Zakat Fund UAE (zakatfund.gov.ae) — official federal body; citizens can register both to pay and receive
- Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre — publishes annual nisab guidance for the UAE
- General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE) — official fatwa body
Expatriates can also pay through international platforms such as Islamic Relief or NZF if distributing to their home communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My company gives me a housing allowance — is it zakatable? A: Allowances received in cash and accumulated in your bank account are part of your wealth and zakatable once nisab and hawl are met.
Q: I have a joint account with my spouse — who pays Zakat on it? A: Zakat is an individual obligation. If the account is jointly owned, each spouse pays on their respective share. Agree in advance how ownership is split.
Q: Is the Dubai Golden Visa deposit zakatable? A: The deposit remains your wealth (it is refundable upon exit) and is generally zakatable. Consult a scholar if there are restrictions on its withdrawal, as some opinions treat locked/restricted funds differently.
Source References
- Al-Mudawwana (classical Maliki fiqh compendium)
- AAOIFI Sharia Standard No. 35 (Zakah)
- Zakat Fund UAE — official guidance publications
- General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, UAE
- Maliki Madhab Zakat Rulings
Verify your specific asset mix and madhab application with a qualified UAE scholar or the Zakat Fund UAE for binding guidance.