Dubai diamond trade hits record $41.7bn in 2025 as volumes surge to 359.5M carats
Dubai diamond trade reached a record $41.7 billion in 2025 and 359.5 million carats, driven by DMCC-led reforms, wider market demand and robust supply chains.
Record year for Dubai diamond trade in 2025
Dubai’s diamond trade reached an unprecedented $41.7 billion in 2025, according to figures released by Dubai Customs and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).
The milestone surpassed the previous high of $40.9 billion set in 2011 and marked the first time the emirate posted simultaneous records in both value and physical volume.
The total volume of diamonds traded reached 359.5 million carats, representing annual growth of roughly 42.5%.
This performance cements Dubai’s position as a major global conduit linking producers, manufacturers and consumer markets.
Value breakdown and year‑on‑year growth
Overall diamond trade value climbed 16.2 percent from $35.8 billion in 2024 to $41.7 billion in 2025, an increase of $5.8 billion in a single year.
Natural polished diamonds accounted for the lion’s share, with trade in that category alone valued at approximately $39.9 billion, or about 95.8 percent of total diamond trade value.
Other segments also posted notable gains, with colored gemstones reaching a record $1.1 billion in 2025, up around 48 percent year‑on‑year.
Imports of colored stones grew sharply, and re‑exports expanded, highlighting diversification beyond traditional diamond channels.
Long‑term expansion since 2020
Since 2020 Dubai’s diamond trade value has risen by about 139 percent, while traded volumes have doubled over the same period.
Over the past decade the emirate’s diamond trade value increased roughly 63 percent and its physical volume climbed about 44 percent, underscoring sustained expansion rather than a one‑off spike.
DMCC leadership attributed the multi‑year gain to strategic investments in infrastructure, regulatory clarity and financing access that have bolstered the emirate’s appeal to producers and traders.
Those structural improvements have helped Dubai act as a trade hub that connects producing countries with cutting and retail centres worldwide.
Market composition: natural, lab‑grown and industrial stones
While natural diamonds dominate value metrics, the composition of traded carats has evolved significantly in recent years.
Industrial and lab‑grown diamonds together now account for about 39 percent of total carat volume, reflecting changing supply dynamics and growing manufactured stone markets.
The rising share of lab‑grown and industrial stones has altered inventory and pricing patterns, creating new pathways for manufacturers and jewellers based in Dubai.
Traders say the diversity in product types enhances the emirate’s role across multiple segments of the global value chain.
Drivers behind the surge in trade
Industry officials point to a combination of global demand recovery, flexible financing, and an increasingly integrated logistics and inspection ecosystem as key drivers.
Dubai’s customs framework, bonded facilities and specialised gem services have streamlined movement, grading and financing, encouraging higher throughput.
Post‑pandemic trade rebounds and stronger consumer appetites in major markets have also lifted volumes and values.
At the same time, improvements in transparency and traceability drew producers and retailers seeking reliable, compliant channels for sourcing and distribution.
Diversification in gemstones and re‑exports
Colored gemstones and re‑export activity helped broaden the emirate’s gem and jewellery ecosystem during 2025.
Imports of colored stones rose nearly 69 percent, while re‑exports of those categories increased by about a third, signalling deeper participation across the supply chain.
The increased activity in non‑diamond gemstones complements the traditional diamond trade and provides additional revenue streams for traders and service providers.
Analysts see the trend as indicative of Dubai’s strategy to build a comprehensive gemstones hub rather than a single‑product marketplace.
Dubai’s DMCC said the results validate a long‑term strategy to create a highly connected, transparent and efficient gemstones ecosystem that serves producers, manufacturers and retailers. The centre highlighted its infrastructure, regulatory clarity and access to finance as ongoing enablers of growth.
The surge in both value and volume in 2025 positions Dubai as a central node in global diamond flows, while the rising presence of lab‑grown and colored stones points to a more diversified future for the emirate’s gem trade.