The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has introduced a comprehensive GCC Customs Guide aimed at simplifying export procedures for Indian gem and jewellery companies targeting Gulf markets. Designed as a practical reference tool, the guide maps out regulatory frameworks and shipment processes across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The GCC continues to be a strategic export corridor for India’s jewellery industry, accounting for roughly $8 billion in exports in FY 2024–25 and nearly 27 percent of the sector’s global shipments. With growing trade volumes and evolving compliance standards, the new guide seeks to help exporters streamline documentation, plan logistics, and avoid regulatory delays.
The handbook details import duties, VAT structures, and country-specific documentation requirements, alongside hallmarking and assay norms. It also outlines compliance obligations under the Kimberley Process and CITES, temporary import regulations for exhibitions and trade fairs, and port-level procedures including clearance timelines.
While most GCC countries follow a standard import duty of around 5 percent, the guide highlights variations in VAT and regulatory frameworks across individual markets. It also explains how exporters can leverage preferential tariff benefits under CEPA and FTA arrangements, particularly in the UAE and Oman, subject to meeting origin documentation requirements.
By consolidating regulatory intelligence into a single resource, GJEPC aims to reduce friction in cross-border trade and strengthen India’s position in one of its most valuable export regions.