More gold to the worlds largest distribution center

Dubai imported 660.3 tons of gold in 1997, an increase of 88.3% over 1996.

A responsible official in Dubai customs said this is the biggest annual increase in 28 years, and Dubai is the biggest center for redistributing gold in the world.

The gold merchants in Dubai said the increasing demand for gold in nearby India, supported by lower prices, is the main factor in Dubai's increasing gold imports.