Dubai Launches Dedicated Lab-Grown Diamond Hub as UAE Trade Volumes Double

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre has established a specialized platform for the lab-grown diamond industry as trade volumes in the UAE reach record highs and the sector expands into advanced technology and industrial applications.

The UAE traded 76.9 million carats of lab-grown diamonds in 2025, marking a 91.5 per cent year-on-year increase, while the total value of trade grew by 7.5 per cent to reach $1.3 billion, according to the DMCC. These volumes have more than doubled from 36.8 million carats in 2022, with both imports and re-exports experiencing parallel growth.

The new DMCC Lab-Grown Diamond Vertical will function independently from natural diamond and coloured stone operations, highlighting the distinct economic models of a sector driven by scalable manufacturing, technology, and industrial needs.

“Lab-grown diamonds have reached the point where they need dedicated market infrastructure and a distinct economic case of their own, developed alongside the natural diamond trade rather than in place of it,” stated Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman and chief executive of DMCC.

Dubai aims to establish itself as a premier global hub for the industry by linking producers, manufacturers, traders, investors, finance providers, technology companies, and industrial users. Countries such as China, India, and the US have played pivotal roles in this expansion, with China leading in industrial-scale production and research, India focusing on manufacturing and processing, and the US serving as a vital technology and consumer market.

Aside from jewellery, lab-grown diamonds are seeing increased development for advanced industrial sectors due to their unique thermal, optical, and semiconductor properties, opening possibilities for applications in semiconductors, diamond wafers, quantum technology, aerospace, and precision engineering.

The DMCC has actively grown its footprint in this sector by hosting two lab-grown diamond symposia and scheduling a third for 2027. Overall, the UAE's total diamond trade achieved a record $41.7 billion in 2025.