Dubai diamond trade hits historic highs
Dubai’s diamond trade reached a peak of $41.7 billion in 2025, exceeding the prior record of $40.9 billion set in 2011. The emirate processed 359.5 million carats, a 42.5% increase from 2024, making 2025 the first year both trade value and volume hit new highs simultaneously. This 16.2% year-over-year growth highlights Dubai’s growing influence as a global diamond center, according to Dubai Customs.
Natural diamonds fueled the expansion, representing 95.8% of total trade value at $39.9 billion. Rough diamonds led demand, with 205.2 million carats traded—a 34% rise over 2024 and the second-highest volume ever recorded. Polished natural diamonds also climbed, reaching $18.7 billion, up 25% from the previous year. Since 2020, polished diamond trade through Dubai has surged 246% in value, while average carat prices have risen eight to nine times their earlier levels.
Colored gemstones also achieved a record, with trade hitting $1.1 billion—48% higher than in 2024. Imports of these stones jumped 68.8%, while re-exports rose 33.5%, showing a shift toward broader market diversification beyond conventional diamond categories. Synthetic and industrial diamonds now account for roughly 39% of total carat volume, further broadening Dubai’s market scope.
Dubai’s strategy to become the world’s most connected diamond hub is evident in these figures. Since the pandemic, trade through the emirate has doubled in volume and increased 139% in value since 2020. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: “Dubai’s latest diamond trade figures demonstrate the success of a long-term strategy to build the world’s most connected, transparent, and efficient precious stones ecosystem.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, we have seen trade through Dubai double in physical volume and grow by almost 140% in value. For natural polished diamonds alone, value has grown by 246%. We are the partner of choice for producers, manufacturers, traders, and retailers across the global industry. Through world-class infrastructure, regulatory certainty, access to finance, and one of the world’s most sophisticated ecosystems for precious stones, we will continue to provide the platform the industry needs to grow.”
The emirate’s leadership in the sector extends beyond sheer scale. The Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE), the region’s largest tender facility, operates alongside logistics, customs, grading, and financial services to simplify trade processes. This integrated system positions Dubai as the preferred link between producers, manufacturers, and consumers, solidifying its dominance in precious stones.
Over the past decade, Dubai’s diamond trade has expanded 63% in value and 44% in volume, outstripping broader industry trends. While colored gemstones and synthetics are gaining traction, natural diamonds remain the cornerstone, accounting for nearly all of the $41.7 billion record in 2025. The data indicates a market increasingly dependent on Dubai’s capacity to manage both traditional and emerging segments of the precious stones industry.
