In an era of economic uncertainty and volatile financial markets, gold continues to shine as a beacon of stability and wealth preservation.
While investors worldwide seek gold and silver, Asia has emerged as the premier hub for these purchases, hosting several of the world’s top markets for buying precious metals.
Why Asia Dominates the Gold Market
The continent’s prominence in the gold market isn’t coincidental.
Asia has historically maintained a deep cultural connection to gold, with many Asian societies viewing it as more than just an investment – it’s a symbol of prosperity and security.
Asia’s cultural affinity, combined with sophisticated financial infrastructure and competitive pricing, has positioned several countries in the region as global leaders in gold and silver.
Meanwhile, there are few places in the world with higher safety and lower taxes than Hong Kong and Singapore.
Without further ado, let’s explore six of the world’s best countries to buy gold:
Singapore: The Safe Haven
Known as Southeast Asia’s premier financial hub, Singapore offers unparalleled security and transparency in gold trading.
The city-state’s robust regulatory framework and world-class storage facilities make it an ideal location for precious metals investment.
Singapore’s gold dealers typically offer competitive premiums, and the country’s strong banking sector provides additional confidence to investors.
- World-class storage facilities
- Strong property rights
- Political stability
- Strategic location in Southeast Asia
- Excellent banking secrecy laws
What makes Singapore particularly attractive is its strategic location, political stability, and the absence of capital gains tax on precious metals.
The country also hosts several internationally recognised gold storage facilities with state-of-the-art security systems.
Quite frankly, if we’re ordering this list, Singapore is ranked as the world’s best place to buy gold. Nowhere else enjoys the sheer variety of options, combined with low-taxes and high safety ratings.
Hong Kong: Asia’s Golden Gateway
Hong Kong, technically not a country but a special administrative region of China, stands out as a premier destination for gold purchases.
As Asia’s second-largest financial hub after Singapore, Hong Kong offers several distinct advantages:
- Highly competitive premiums on gold purchases
- Sophisticated banking infrastructure
- Extensive selection of gold products
- Regulatory framework protecting investors
- Zero sales tax on precious metals
As a whole, Hong Kong often yields the lowest gold prices in Asia via numerous online dealers who operate here. The territory’s banks additionally have of the lowest premiums when purchasing gold globally.
Hong Kong’s rare combo of low taxes on precious metals and high security makes the territory Kong an unbeatable choice for serious gold investors.
UAE: Where East Meets West
Dubai, in particular, has established itself as a global gold trading hub, bridging Asian and Western markets. The emirate offers:
- Extensive selection of gold products
- Low-tax of just 5% VAT on gold purchases
- Modern infrastructure
- Strategic location in the Gulf region
Singapore doesn’t have capital gains tax on precious metals, which makes it an attractive location to buy gold.
The Dubai Gold Souk remains one of the world’s largest retail gold markets, offering everything from investment-grade bars to ornate jewellery.
India: The Traditional Powerhouse
India’s relationship with gold runs deep into its cultural fabric.
The country holds about 10% of the world’s physical gold, making it a significant player in the global market. Key advantages include:
- Extensive dealer network
- Competitive local prices
- Various product options
- Strong cultural understanding of gold quality
However, investors should be aware of India’s import duties and regulations, which can affect pricing.
Safety is also notably lower compared to other precious metal hubs on our list including Singapore and Hong Kong.
Switzerland: European Excellence
While not in Asia, Switzerland remains a benchmark for gold trading excellence. We’d be amiss to not mention it on our list! The country offers:
- Unparalleled privacy
- Political stability
- High-security storage
- Premium quality standards
Swiss gold commands a rather high premium, but many investors consider it worthwhile for the additional security and privacy.
The Swiss advantage goes beyond mere storage – the country’s stable political environment and strong property rights provide additional layers of security for investors.
While premiums might be higher than in Asian markets, the peace of mind often justifies the extra cost.
Saudi Arabia: An Unconventional Pick?
The Kingdom has emerged as a significant player in the gold market, offering investors unique opportunities in the heart of the Middle East.
- No taxes on precious metals
- Reasonable gold and silver prices
- Modernisation and ongoing improvement
- Strong quality controls
Saudi Arabia’s gold markets combine traditional souks with modern trading facilities, providing diverse options for gold purchases.
The Dubai Gold Souk remains one of the world’s largest retail gold markets, while the Saudi Arabia Souk is attracting a greater number of foreign buyers than ever with its zero-tax policy.
The country’s zero-tax policy on precious metals, similar to its Gulf neighbors, makes it an attractive destination for gold investors.
Recent economic reforms and modernization efforts have also improved the transparency and efficiency of gold trading in the Kingdom.
Essential Considerations for Gold Buyers
When purchasing gold in any of these markets, several factors are worth thinking about if you’re primarily seeking to preserve capital:
Physical Possession vs. Paper Gold
Always prioritize physical gold over paper certificates or derivatives. During financial crises, physical possession proves invaluable. Ensure you receive detailed documentation of your holdings, including serial numbers and purity certificates.
Storage Solutions
Consider offshore storage in secure jurisdictions. Asian financial centers like Hong Kong and Singapore offer excellent storage facilities with strong legal protections. This approach provides both security and geographic diversification.
Product Selection
If you ever need to sell your precious metals, it’ll be far easier if you hold internationally recognized products such as:
- Government-minted coins
- LBMA-approved bars
- Standard weight units (1 oz, 100g, 1kg)
These products offer better liquidity and easier verification of authenticity.
Price Considerations
While seeking the best price is natural, don’t let it be your only criterion. Consider each of the four factors below:
- Dealer reputation
- Storage costs
- Transport expenses
- Local taxes and duties
What’s the Future of Precious Metals?
Asia’s dominance in the gold market appears set to strengthen further. This is because of both local and global trends.
China’s central bank continues to accumulate gold reserves, while private Asian investors increasingly view gold as a hedge against economic uncertainty.
The region’s growing wealth, combined with traditional cultural affinity for gold, suggests that Asian gold markets will continue to offer some of the world’s best opportunities for gold investors.
While excellent gold markets exist worldwide, Asia’s combination of competitive pricing, sophisticated infrastructure, and deep cultural understanding of gold makes it particularly attractive for international investors.
So, where is the best place in the world to buy gold? Our conclusion is that Hong Kong and Singapore lead the way together.
They both offer unparalleled safety, low-taxes, and plenty of options for selling and storing precious metals. You truly can’t go wrong with buying gold in either Singapore or Hong Kong!
Remember that while price is important, factors like security, reliability, and ease of liquidation should play crucial roles in your decision-making process. Gold isn’t the only way to preserve your wealth either.
Asia’s gold markets excel in all these aspects, which makes them an excellent choice for serious gold investors in 2025 and beyond.
FAQs: World’s Best Countries to Buy Gold
Where is the Safest Place to Store Gold?
Out of the six countries on our list, five of them have an exceptionally low crime rate.
Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and the UAE are known as some of the world's safest countries and storing your precious metals is safe in any of these places.
Which Country Has the Lowest Tax on Gold?
Neither Singapore, Hong Kong, or Saudi Arabia levies any sales tax on physical gold bullion or jewlery at all.
It doesn't get lower than 0%, and as such, these three countries all have the world's lowest tax on gold.
What's the Best Country to Buy Gold?
If we had to choose one, Singapore is the world's best place to trade precious metals. No other country enjoys Singapore safety, low-taxes, and infrastrucutre at the same time. Several places on our list enjoy most of Singapore's benefits, but still not all of them.
Plus, between the wide variety of banks and storage facilities that specialize in gold and silver, there are plenty of options to buy precious metals in Singapore.
