Zakat in the UAE: official channels and personal giving
The UAE provides official Zakat channels and guidance, but calculating and giving your personal Zakat remains your own responsibility.
In the UAE there is no compulsory state deduction of personal Zakat, though official bodies such as the Zakat Fund and Awqaf authorities provide channels and guidance. Calculate your Zakat on savings, gold, business and investments in dirhams on your Zakat date and give it — through an official channel or a trusted charity — to eligible recipients.
Support, not compulsion.
The UAE supports Zakat through official bodies — such as the Zakat Fund and Awqaf authorities — which offer calculation guidance and collection channels. But personal Zakat is not compulsorily deducted from your accounts; using these channels is a convenience, and the responsibility to calculate and give remains yours.
Your own wealth.
Total your Zakatable wealth in dirhams on your Zakat date — bank balances, gold, business assets and investments — subtract eligible near-term liabilities, and compare with the gold or silver Nisab in dirhams. Apply 2.5% where the threshold is met.
Gold holdings are widespread in the UAE. Value them by net gold content at the current dirham price, not the price paid.
Official body or charity.
You can give through an official Zakat channel or a trusted charity that verifies recipients and distributes locally or abroad. Confirm that recipients meet the requirements of the view you follow.
Official channels and any business Zakat obligations can change. Confirm current arrangements through official bodies or a qualified adviser.
Questions people ask.
Does the UAE deduct Zakat automatically?+
No. There is no compulsory state deduction of personal Zakat. Official bodies such as the Zakat Fund provide channels and guidance, but calculating and giving your Zakat remains your responsibility.
What currency and Nisab do I use?+
Calculate in UAE dirhams, using the gold or silver price in dirhams on your Zakat date to set your Nisab.
Where do I give my Zakat in the UAE?+
Through an official Zakat channel or a trusted charity that verifies recipients and distributes locally or internationally, confirming recipients are eligible under the view you follow.
Use the private calculator.
Your entries are processed in the browser and are not stored.