A real discount shows up in the making charge, not in the percentage on the poster, because the gold value itself follows the market. Divide the offer price by 1.15, subtract the weight × today's price per gram, and divide what's left by the weight: that is your actual making charge per gram. Compare it with the same piece's price before the sale, and check the shop holds a Ministry of Commerce discount licence. White Friday falls on 27 November 2026, and today 21K is 408.86 SAR per gram.
White Friday gold deals: how can I tell if the discount is real?
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Do this now, before the offers start
The strongest step comes before the season. If you have your eye on a piece, photograph it with its price, weight and today's date. During the sale you can compare with a real figure, rather than the "before" price the shop writes. The Ministry of Commerce says it monitors prices before and after discounts, but your photo is your own proof.
The sum in four steps
Using 1 November 2026 figures, when 21K was SAR 408.86 per gram, for a 10 g piece offered at SAR 5,266:
| Step | Sum | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Remove the VAT | 5,266 ÷ 1.15 | 4,579.13 |
| 2. Work out the gold value | 10 × 408.86 | 4,088.60 |
| 3. Subtract | 4,579.13 − 4,088.60 | 490.53 |
| 4. Divide by the weight | 490.53 ÷ 10 | SAR 49.05 per gram |
The shop price check does this in seconds. The full method is in how to calculate the making charge.
Same poster, different discount
The wording changes the number a lot. Here is one piece compared: 10 g of 21K, with an original making charge of SAR 100 per gram, at 1 November 2026 prices.
| Offer | Final price (SAR) | Actual making charge per gram (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| No offer | 5,851.89 | 100.00 |
| 50% off the making charge | 5,276.89 | 50.00 |
| 10% off the whole price | 5,266.70 | 49.11 |
| 70% off the making charge | 5,046.89 | 30.00 |
Note that 10% off the piece is almost the same as 50% off the making charge, so the bigger percentage isn't always the better deal. And 50% off an inflated making charge can cost more than an ordinary charge with no discount at all. Compare the final figure between shops. At today's live price, this piece at a SAR 50 making charge costs 5,276.89 SAR.
What to watch for
- The gram price the shop applies. The discount may be on the making charge while the gram price sits above the market. According to Okaz, the Ministry of Commerce requires gold shops to write the gram price and the total price of a piece, so ask for it.
- "Up to 70%". "Up to" means the highest rate on some pieces. Ask about yours.
- Price moves. Gold can move 3% in a day, as it did on 1 November 2026 (Arabic). Market movement alone can outweigh a SAR 100 discount, in either direction.
- Returns and exchanges. Ask about the policy before you pay.
- Gold bars. Bars have no making charge in the same sense, so a discount comes off the dealer's premium: how to buy a gold bar.
- Deferred payment. Sales often push pay-later options, so read what scholars say about gold in instalments first.
How to check a discount is licensed
The Ministry of Commerce set nine controls to limit fake and misleading offers. The most useful for a buyer:
- A licence before advertising, displayed so you can verify it by scanning the barcode.
- No trickery or price manipulation.
- A clearly written discount rate, from and to.
- A price card showing the price before and after the discount.
- A stated returns and exchange policy for the sale period.
- Your choice: you can't be obliged to take an offer.
For online stores, the ministry advised checking them through its website or the Maroof platform. If you doubt an offer, report it to the Ministry of Commerce on 1900.
A note on the dates
27 November is White Friday itself, but each shop sets its own sale period. The licence shows the actual dates.
Sources
- Ministry of Commerce: nine controls on commercial discounts (Arabic).
- Saudi Press Agency: Ministry of Commerce on checking seasonal offers and discounts (18 September 2021, Arabic).
- Ministry of Commerce, via Okaz: gram price and total price on gold (18 November 2020, Arabic).
- Ministry of Commerce: reports on 1900 (Arabic).
- Figures use the 21K gram price on 1 November 2026 from Dhahabi's prices (Arabic), with a SAR 100 making charge for illustration.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a gold discount is real?
Work out the actual making charge from the offer price, then compare it with the same piece before the sale and with other shops. Check the discount licence too.
When is White Friday 2026?
Friday 27 November 2026. Each shop's sale period differs.
Which is better: a discount on the making charge or on the whole price?
Work out the final figure. In our example, 10% off the whole price is very close to 50% off the making charge.
How do I check a shop's licence?
Ask to see the licence displayed in the shop and scan its barcode. For an online store, check it through the Ministry of Commerce's website or Maroof.