Kerala's gold and jewellery trade community has cemented itself as a major force in the UAE's bullion economy, with Kerala-origin jewellers now responsible for close to 20% of the entire gold trade volume in the UAE. The figure was shared by K. Surendran, State President of the Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association (KGSMA), while addressing a General Body Meeting of the Dubai Kerala Jewellery Association at the Novotel Hotel, situated in the heart of Dubai's Gold District. Surendran used the platform to underline how deeply rooted Kerala's diaspora traders have become in shaping the emirate's retail gold landscape.
What Was Discussed at the Meeting
The gathering, chaired by Association President Muneer Thangals, saw KGSMA State General Secretary Adv. S. Abdul Nazar deliver the keynote address, setting the tone for a wide-ranging discussion among the trade body's leadership. Conversations centred on three broad themes:
Business opportunities: Identifying fresh openings within the UAE's evolving gold and jewellery retail space
Industry challenges: Tackling the operational and trade-related hurdles specific to Kerala-origin jewellers operating in Dubai
Member welfare: Reinforcing welfare and support mechanisms for members of the trade community
Leadership Present at the Event
Several senior figures from the Dubai Kerala Jewellers Association took the floor during the session, including General Secretary Mujeeb Rahman Tajvi and Treasurer Shuhaib Zia, alongside KGSMA State Vice President Faisal Amin and Legal Advisor Adv. Abraham P. John. Other prominent attendees named at the meeting included Shameer A.G.D., C.K. Nasi, and Rafeeq Maharaja, reflecting the breadth of leadership invested in strengthening the community's standing in the Gulf gold market.
The meeting reinforces a long-standing trend of Malayali entrepreneurs building substantial footholds in Gulf jewellery retail, a sector where Indian expatriate traders have historically played an outsized role relative to their population share. With Dubai's Gold District remaining one of the world's most active bullion trading hubs, continued coordination through bodies like KGSMA and the Dubai Kerala Jewellery Association is likely to remain central to sustaining and growing this share of the market.