In 2010, the first permanent gold vending machine was installed in the lobby of the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. The machine, called Gold to Go, dispensed 320 items made of pure gold, including 10-gram gold bars and customized gold coins. The vending machines are designed to be placed in shopping malls and airports and are meant to make ordinary people comfortable with the idea of investing in gold. Users can purchase gold bars and coins using cash or credit card slots and must scan identification for purchases.
The vending machines update their prices to market value every minute over an encrypted internet connection. Emirates Gold, accredited to the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), is the current supplier of the gold and silver bars for the Gold to Go vending machines. In Dubai, there is 5gold bar-vending machine called 24 Karat Dubai.
locations of GOLD BAR Dispenser Machines in Dubai and Abu Dhabi:
- At Dubai Mall: Lower Ground floor, opposite Carluccio restaurant, next to an ATM machine.
- there is a gold bar-vending machine called 24 Karat Dubai, which is located at the Burj Khalifa
- Atlantis Hotel: Near the Gallery entrance, next to Starbucks, and also near the Aquaventure entrance/monorail station entrance, close to Cold Stone Creamery.
- Souq Madinat Jumeirah: The exact location is not recalled, but it’s not far from the main entrance and is possibly opposite the Art Gallery.
- Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi: You can find one in the main lobby, next to the piano, near the coffee shop that sells 24K cappuccinos.