Gold Jewellery Names in the UAE
Gold shops in Al Ain and across the Emirates use names you may not find in international stores. This is a short guide to the names in use today and the heritage ones, so you know exactly what to ask for.
What people ask for in the shop today
Taqm (plural tuqoom): a matching set — usually a necklace or mariya with a bracelet, ring and earrings. A “nus taqm” (half set) means a necklace with earrings only.
Mariya (plural mariyat): a necklace that wraps around the neck, worn for occasions and shown in full. “Iqd” is the broader name for anything worn on the neck.
Hiyool: solid round bangles worn as a pair or more — one of the most enduring pieces in Emirati taste.
Iswara waqfa: a rigid bracelet that keeps its round shape. Iswara tayha: a flexible, hinged bracelet that flows with the movement of the hand.
Banajir: thin round bangles worn in stacks. Ta'liqa or dalaya: a small pendant on a fine chain.
Halaq and taraji: earrings; “taraji” is a common Gulf name for drop earrings.
Mahbas or dibla: an engagement or wedding ring.
Emirati heritage names
Murtaesha: a heavy necklace of linked squares from which chains and rings hang down to the chest — named because it “trembles” as you move.
Hiyool bu shok: wide bangles with pointed tips that stand out like thorns. Multafit: a wide bracelet closed with a small key.
Kaff: a bracelet joined to five chains that end in rings on the fingers.
Shughab: pointed, cone-shaped earrings. Tasa, shinaf and reesh: ornaments for the head and forehead.
Hiqab: a gold belt for the waist. Khalakhil: anklets.
Names by where they are worn
Neck: the mariya and its types (umm shinaf, umm al-safayeh, umm al-dhawari, habbat al-hail, umm al-mashakhes), the khanaq, the murtaesha, the tabla, the nathra, the qilada, the silsal (chain) and the tawq.
Hand and arm: hiyool and hiyool bu shok, banajir, ghawayesh, the multafit, the mabroum, the maftoul, the dumluj and mi'dad on the upper arm, and the kaff.
Fingers: the ring and the mahbas, the shahid, the marami and the khanasir.
Ear: halaq and taraji, the shughab, the kawashi and the shinaf.
Head: the tasa, the shinaf and the mashbas. Foot: the khalkhal (anklet) and the fatakh. Waist: the hiqab.
The khanaq (choker) sits close against the top of the neck, while the mariya is longer and rests on the collarbone — which is why you will find them as two separate collections at FLORET.
The name is not the karat or the craft
“Mariya” describes the shape of the piece, “21K” describes how much gold it contains, and “Bahraini” describes the school of craftsmanship. These are three independent things — which is why we list them separately on every piece at FLORET.