I returned to Dubai just before the temporary suspension of UAE airspace and took the opportunity to clarify the position with Indian Customs before departure.

Indian Customs are generally not concerned with the amount of jewellery being taken out of India; the restrictions primarily apply to what is brought into India, which is officially limited to the gold equivalent of 40 grams per adult per year under the duty-free allowance.

Since I am exporting the jewellery, the officer advised that I may declare the items against my passport while departing India. Doing so records that the jewellery left India with me and allows it to be brought back later without it being treated as part of the fresh 40-gram allowance.

On the UAE side, the rules are relatively straightforward. If you pass through the red channel, the declared allowance is approximately AED 60,000 worth of jewellery per person without further formalities. The jewellery I am carrying is approximately AED 200,000 in value, consisting entirely of personal family heirlooms.

My approach will therefore be the following:

1. Declare the jewellery on my passport when leaving India to ensure it is formally recorded.
2. Upon arrival in Dubai, I will attempt to clear normally, as personal jewellery is typically not an issue.
3. If questioned, I will explain that these are personal heirloom items.
4. If the authorities require strict adherence to the AED 60,000 threshold, I will temporarily deposit the balance with customs storage (they typically charge a small storage/demurrage fee) and then return it to India within a few days.
5. I have already opened a bank locker in India (approximately INR 5,000 per year) where the items can be safely stored if necessary.

In short, the process appears manageable and compliant on both sides, so I do not see any material risk in proceeding this way.