Dubai’s diamond trade hit an all‑time high in 2025, reaching USD 41.7 billion and moving 359.5 million carats, according to Dubai Customs data released by the DMCC. The figures top the previous record of USD 40.9 billion set in 2011 and mark the first year the market posted simultaneous peaks in both value and physical volume.
The 2025 milestone follows a sustained acceleration that began after the pandemic‑induced slowdown of 2020, when the market’s worth more than doubled and its volume also doubled, showing Dubai’s emergence as a primary conduit for the global diamond flow.
Value and volume surge
The sector grew 16.2 % year‑on‑year, up from USD 35.8 billion in 2024, adding roughly USD 5.8 billion in a single year. Carat volume climbed 42.5 %, pushing the total to the 359.5‑million‑carat mark. The rise reflects sustained momentum that began after 2020, when the market’s worth more than doubled and its volume doubled as well.
Since that inflection point, total diamond trade through Dubai has risen 139 % in value and 100 % in volume, illustrating how the emirate’s strategic positioning has amplified both the monetary and physical scales of trade.
Colourful stones also posted a record, with trade in coloured gemstones hitting USD 1.1 billion, a 48 % jump from the prior year. Imports of these stones rose nearly 69 %, while re‑exports grew about 33 %, indicating broader activity across sourcing and distribution channels.
The import surge of 68.8 % and re‑export increase of 33.5 % for coloured gemstones highlight a widening supply chain that now handles a larger share of both raw and finished stones, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a hub for diversified gemstone commerce.
Natural stones lead the way
Natural gems accounted for 95.8 % of total market value, generating USD 39.9 billion. Rough material contributed a notable 205.2 million carats, the second‑largest volume on record and roughly a 34 % increase over 2024. Polished pieces reached USD 18.7 billion, up close to 25 % from the previous year. Since 2020, polished trade has risen 246 % in value, while the average price per carat has risen eight‑ to nine‑fold.
These figures cement natural diamonds as the economic backbone of Dubai’s marketplace, with a decade‑long growth of 63 % in value and 44 % in volume confirming a persistent upward trajectory that outpaces many regional commodity sectors.
In contrast, synthetic and industrial stones now represent about 39 % of total carat volume, showing a diversification trend that complements the natural segment’s dominance.
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The presence of synthetic and industrial diamonds at this proportion shows a broadening product mix, allowing traders to meet varied market demands while preserving the primacy of natural stones.
Industry infrastructure
Executive Chairman and CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the numbers “demonstrate the success of a long‑term strategy to build the world’s most connected, transparent, and efficient precious stones ecosystem.” He highlighted the role of world‑class logistics, regulatory certainty, and finance access in sustaining growth.
His remarks echo the DMCC’s positioning as the partner of choice for producers, manufacturers, traders, and retailers worldwide, a claim reinforced by the dramatic post‑2020 trade expansion.
The Dubai Diamond Exchange, operated by the DMCC, remains the region’s largest tender facility. It offers secure logistics, customs facilitation, grading services, and specialised infrastructure that together reinforce the emirate’s status as a leading hub for the global market.
Beyond tendering, the DDE’s integrated ecosystem includes advanced grading technology, dedicated financial services, and a network of customs‑streamlined pathways that together accelerate transaction cycles and reduce operational friction.
Comparing today’s figures with the decade‑long trend shows a shift: the market’s value has risen more than six‑fold, while volume has surged by roughly four‑times since 2015. That pattern mirrors earlier phases when the emirate positioned itself as a conduit between producers, manufacturers, and consumers, suggesting the current spike is an extension rather than an anomaly.
The six‑fold value increase and four‑fold volume rise align with Dubai’s deliberate effort to act as a gateway, linking diamond‑producing nations with downstream manufacturing hubs and final‑consumer markets across continents.
Looking ahead, officials expect the platform’s capabilities to keep pace with demand. The combination of robust physical infrastructure and a supportive regulatory environment is set to attract further participation from producers and traders worldwide.
Projected continuance of these favorable conditions points to a future where Dubai not only sustains its record‑breaking volumes but also deepens its role as the premier coordination point for the global precious‑stones supply chain.
