‘City of Gold’ is a reputation earned by Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other Gulf cities. In the Emirati capital, it runs from long-standing jewellers’ benches on Hamdan Street to the quiet salons of Al Maryah Island. These golden pieces are not mere commodities displayed in a vitrine; behind every polished bangle and high-jewellery necklace lie stones chosen for their character, wax carved to cradle them, and metal coaxed into form by patient hands. Across Arabia, high-carat pieces are still given at weddings and festivals, prized as a portable store of value as much as adornment.
If you are buying a bridal parure, a serious investment bangle, or a modern everyday chain, this guide highlights international maisons, regional leaders, and independent ateliers.
Tiffany & Co., The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
Tiffany brings New York polish to Abu Dhabi with sleek, architectural lines in 18-carat gold that are often set with diamonds in the house’s precise pavé. The Tiffany T and Atlas collections offer modern geometry that suits daily wear, while the Victoria line, with its floral and vine motifs and mixed-cut diamonds, leans more formal and is especially suited to evening. Brides come for classic solitaires and wedding bands, but there is also a solid edit of statement cuffs and necklaces in yellow, rose, and white gold. Founded in 1837, Tiffany has built a reputation for clarity of design and exacting standards in making. Its gold collections balance modern geometry with classical forms; each piece carries both New York lineage and global recognition.
Cartier, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
Cartier’s Abu Dhabi boutique presents the Love bracelet, Trinity ring and Juste un Clou in every gold tone and width, allowing you to fine-tune the scale and weight on the wrist. Much of the collection is rendered in 18-carat gold, finished to Cartier’s exacting standards, and includes a deep selection of bangles, earrings and pendants designed to layer with ease. Cartier also offers hallmark personalisation – from engraving initials to bespoke gift presentation – and with its long history of design heritage and strong resale value, the house remains among the city’s most assured choices.
Van Cleef & Arpels, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
Van Cleef & Arpels was founded in 1896 by Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, with its first boutique opening at 22 Place Vendôme in Paris – an address the maison still calls home. The Alhambra motif – born in 1968 – reappears in pieces set with mother-of-pearl, onyx, carnelian, and diamonds, across long necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that sit subtly upon the skin. The Perlée collection delights in harmonious, radiant curves. Golden beads gently illuminate each piece in single lines or in multiple rows, across yellow, white, and rose 18-carat gold. When set with precious stones, pearls of gold border gems with a meticulous finish that reflects Van Cleef & Arpels’ exacting standards of craftsmanship. For connoisseurs, Van Cleef’s creations embody centuries of artistry, their motifs born in Paris, with gemstones curated for radiance, and gold tones refined with a precision that elevates each piece.
Damas Jewellery, citywide and Madinat Zayed Gold Centre
Damas Jewellery, with outlets city-wide, including the Madinat Zayed Gold Centre, is a regional stalwart that merges Middle Eastern design accents with an international touch. Its jewellery ranges from 22-carat gold sets with intricate filigree work to contemporary 18-carat pieces studded with diamonds – each collection often refreshed seasonally. The brand also collaborates with international personalities: for instance, Penélope Cruz fronts its Sama super-premium collection, a limited line intended to blend aspirational design with collector appeal. With its long history (founded in 1907), Damas suits buyers who want breadth under one roof and value from a widely-praised name. On top of that, Damas offers valuation and verification for exchange, upgrade or refund – gold pieces may even be exchanged for diamonds under certain terms – helping protect resale value over time.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds, multiple branches, Hamdan Street and Dalma Mall
Malabar is among the most trusted addresses for 22-carat gold in Abu Dhabi. The showcase includes bridal necklaces with lavish detail, bangles built with satisfying heft, and daily-wear chains that lie flatteringly at the collarbone. The house also offers men’s rings and children’s pieces – perfect for families shopping together. Its designs span everything from South Asian heritage sets to pared-back modern forms. Its hallmark 916 purity on all gold jewellery and its promise of lifetime maintenance are the cornerstones of Malabar’s reputation. If you’re assembling a gold wardrobe in 22-carat, this is the place to start.
Joyalukkas, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre and across the city
Joyalukkas is a prominent name throughout the Emirates, well known for its 22-carat gold jewellery – from slim stacking bangles to lavish bridal sets crafted to shine under wedding lights. Its diamond programme is robust, offering designs that combine stones with gold across rings, pendants and bangles. Collections are structured by style families, which makes it easier to find matching earrings or a pendant down the line. The brand’s story began in 1956, when Alukka Joseph Varghese founded the family’s first jewellery shop in Thrissur, Kerala. His son, Joy Alukkas, later expanded the business, opening the first Joyalukkas showroom in Abu Dhabi in 1987 — marking the start of its long-standing presence in the Gulf.
Kalyan Jewellers, Hamdan Street and Madinat Zayed
Founded in 1993 by T. S. Kalyanaraman in Thrissur, Kerala, the brand is now recognised for its hallmark Temple Jewellery collection – intricate motifs drawn from gods and goddesses, adorned with precious and semi-precious stones. Its hallmark 22-carat offerings include antique finishes and engineered clasps, built to feel reassuringly solid. Meanwhile, lighter rose- and yellow-gold pieces serve daily wear beautifully. Jewellery sets are organised into style families, making future additions or matching pieces simple to build. Kalyan was among the first to introduce BIS certification, display gold purity analysers in its showrooms, and attach transparent price tags.
Carcassonne Gold & Diamonds, Hamdan Centre
Since its founding in 2000, the house has focused on 18-carat gold set with diamonds and coloured stones, favouring European-leaning silhouettes that still resonate in the Gulf. Much of its appeal lies in bespoke craftsmanship, where you can tweak an in-store model or commission a creation from scratch, choosing everything from gold tone to setting style and stone shape. Carcassonne’s workmanship shows in prongs that are neatly seated, symmetry that is carefully observed, and proportions judged with precision. Carcassonne’s Hamdan Street showroom also features GIA-certified diamond solitaires, adding an extra measure of assurance. If you take pleasure in the making as much as in the piece itself, Carcassonne is a go-to.
Closing Reflection
Be it Tiffany’s geometry, Cartier’s icons, Van Cleef’s poetry, or the heritage sets of Damas, gold – beyond its material value – is memory forged in carat. A bridal necklace marks the beginning of a family story; a solitaire ring preserves the date of a wedding as surely as an inscription; and a bangle, passed from mother to daughter, carries both weight and remembrance. These golden jewels, just like the coins unearthed from fields or the torques lifted from ancient soil, are guardians of continuity, embodying promises, prayers, and turning points in life.
