Tola in Different Countries — Regional Gold Weight Guide
By Arjun Mehta | Published | Updated
The tola in different countries varies slightly across South Asia and the Gulf. This guide covers how each country uses the tola for gold and precious metal measurement.
Tola in Different Countries — Country-by-Country Guide
India
India is the world's largest gold consumer, and the tola remains the primary unit in jewelry bazaars from Mumbai to Jaipur. The MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange) futures are quoted in grams, but physical sales at the street level routinely use tola. The standard is 1 tola = 11.6638038g, though some informal markets use 10g as an approximation — an imprecise practice that can lead to financial errors.
Pakistan
Pakistan uses two variants: the standard tola (11.6638g) for bullion and the "Pakistani/market tola" which some traders define as exactly 12g (a rounded approximation). The Pakistan Mercantile Exchange and reputable jewelers use the internationally standardized 11.6638g value. Daily gold rates are published per tola in Pakistani newspapers and financial media.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh uses a locally-named variant called the "vori" (also spelled "bhori"), which is equivalent to 1 tola = 11.664g. The Bangladesh Jewellers' Association (BAJUS) officially sets the gold price per vori/tola. Bridal jewelry and gold gifts are universally quantified in vori across Bangladeshi culture.
Nepal
Nepal uses the tola as its primary gold measurement unit, equal to the standard 11.6638g. The Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association (FENEGOSIDA) sets daily gold rates per tola. Nepal's jewelry market is closely aligned with India's, and cross-border gold trade between the two countries heavily references the tola.
United Arab Emirates
The Dubai Gold Souk — one of the world's most famous gold markets — extensively uses the tola alongside grams and troy ounces. The large South Asian expatriate community in the UAE (roughly 2.5 million from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh alone) drives consistent tola demand. Gold jewellery in the Deira souk is routinely priced per gram but quoted in tola multiples. International trading standards are set by organizations like the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's gold markets serve a large South Asian workforce and population. While Saudi regulations increasingly align with international troy ounce standards, tola pricing remains common in shops catering to Pakistani and Indian communities. Major Saudi cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Mecca all have gold souks where tola rates are displayed.
Kuwait
Kuwait's gold market follows similar patterns to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The Kuwait Gold and Jewellery Group publishes gold prices per gram and per tola. Kuwaiti souk vendors often serve a South Asian clientele for whom tola is the familiar reference unit.
Qatar & Bahrain
Qatar's Souq Waqif gold area and Bahrain's Gold City are destinations where tola-based pricing coexists with gram and troy ounce pricing. Qatar's rapid development for the FIFA World Cup and associated migrant worker population has increased tola-market demand. Bahrain's historical role as a pearl and gold trading hub gives it a long tradition of tola use.
Is 1 Tola the Same Everywhere?
Technically, no — but practically, yes for reputable trade. The internationally standardized value of 1 tola = 11.6638038 grams is used by all commodity exchanges, major banks, and international bullion dealers. However, informal market variations exist:
| Country/Region | Tola Definition | In Grams | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India (Standard) | 180 troy grains | 11.6638038 g | MCX official |
| India (Informal) | Rounded | ~10g or 11.7g | Quick estimates only; imprecise |
| Pakistan (Standard) | 180 troy grains | 11.6638038 g | PMEX official |
| Pakistan (Market Tola) | Rounded | ~12g | Some bazaar traders |
| Bangladesh (Vori) | ≈ 1 tola | 11.664 g | Minor rounding |
| Nepal | 180 troy grains | 11.6638038 g | FENEGOSIDA standard |
| UAE/GCC | 180 troy grains | 11.6638038 g | International standard |
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Sources & References
- Wikipedia — Tola (unit) — Definition and regional variations of the tola across South Asia and the Gulf
- Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX) — Official exchange for gold futures and commodities in the UAE
- LBMA — London Bullion Market Association — International precious metals market standards and Good Delivery list
- Wikipedia — Gold Souk — Overview of the famous Dubai Gold Souk and its trading practices