One of Abu Dhabi's ritziest hotels is guessing its customers want more than chocolate or candy during their stay. So it now has a vending machine that will let its guests buy gold.

The Emirates Palace hotel unveiled the hi-tech vending machine Wednesday. Customers can insert cash and, in return, get gold bars weighing up to 10 grams or gold coins featuring a customized design.

Thomas Geissler (center), the chief executive of TG-Gold-Super-Markt, tries the "Gold to Go" vending machine at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi on May 12, 2010. /AFP

The machine's inventor, German entrepreneur Thomas Geissler, says it will update its gold prices every 10 seconds so customers can always get the correct price. Geissler says he brought the machine to Abu Dhabi because of the Gulf emirate's reputation and because of its stable economy. He also says the machine will be updated so that it can take credit cards.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.