Soaring gold price trouble the Arab world

BAGHDAD, Sept 29, 2011- Faced with sky-high gold prices, groom-to-be Mustafa said he considered not saving for a year just to buy jewellery for his fiancee Sura, but quipped ruefully: "I don't think that is allowed in Iraq!"

Families all across the Arab world faces a dilemma as prices for the precious metal have risen dramatically in recent months. The long-held tradition of buying gold to mark a marriage has become an increasingly expensive one.