First-time visitors often feel unsure about haggling at the souk. The good news: negotiation is expected and friendly here, as long as you aim it at the right number. Do that, and you will get a fair price without any awkwardness.
Negotiate the making charge, never the gold
The gold rate is set by the market and is identical across shops — there is nothing to haggle there. The making charge is the shop's own premium, and it is genuinely negotiable. Keep your focus entirely on that figure.
Arrive informed
Check the day's per-gram rate for the karat you want before you go. When you know the metal price, you can instantly see how much of any quote is making charge — and that is your negotiating room.
Ask for the split, and compare
Ask each shop to quote the gold value and the making charge separately. Visit two or three for similar pieces. A making charge that looked high in isolation often becomes obvious once you have a comparison in hand.
Be friendly, and willing to walk
A warm, unhurried manner gets better results than hard bargaining. Buying a set rather than a single piece, or paying promptly, can earn a better rate. And genuine willingness to walk away is the most honest negotiating tool there is.
Close it cleanly
Once you agree, get an itemised invoice listing weight, karat and making charge, and check the hallmark. A fair deal is one that is written down.
