Dubai has officially launched a dedicated Lab-Grown Diamond Vertical under the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), underscoring the city’s growing role in the global lab-grown diamond industry. This initiative formalizes a standalone platform focused solely on lab-grown diamonds, reflecting the sector’s rapid expansion driven by advances in technology, manufacturing, and consumer demand.
The announcement coincides with a record year for the United Arab Emirates in lab-grown diamond trade. In 2025, the UAE traded 76.9 million carats, marking a 91.5 percent increase from the previous year. The value of the trade also rose by 7.5 percent, reaching approximately $1.3 billion. Trade volumes more than doubled from 36.8 million carats in 2022, with both imports and re-exports growing at similar rates, indicating overall market expansion rather than a shift between different segments.
DMCC’s decision to separate lab-grown diamonds from its natural diamond and colored gemstone activities recognizes the distinct economic and technical characteristics of the sector. Unlike natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are produced through scalable manufacturing processes with significant industrial applications beyond jewelry, including semiconductors, quantum technologies, aerospace, and medical devices.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, emphasized that the lab-grown diamond industry has matured to the point where it requires dedicated infrastructure and a specific market framework. He highlighted the material’s broader potential, especially in fields where its thermal, optical, and mechanical properties are critical. “Dubai already has the scale to help shape the sector’s next phase,” Sulayem said, noting the city’s position as a global trade hub with direct connections to major markets.
The global lab-grown diamond industry has primarily been driven by three markets: China, India, and the United States. China dominates industrial-scale production and research, India leads in Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) growth and manufacturing, and the U.S. is the largest consumer market and a pioneer in diamond-growth technologies. In addition, countries such as Japan, Israel, and the United Kingdom contribute as key centers for research, industrial use, and trade.
DMCC’s newly established vertical builds on several years of engagement with the sector, including hosting sales operations for Diamond Foundry since 2020, developing a dedicated digital platform for lab-grown diamonds, and organizing industry symposiums, with the next event planned for 2027. The vertical aims to consolidate global and regional producers, manufacturers, investors, technology firms, and industrial users, while enhancing Dubai’s connectivity to major international diamond markets.
By creating this dedicated platform, DMCC is positioning Dubai to play a central role in the evolving lab-grown diamond industry, facilitating greater transparency, innovation, and international trade in a market valued at nearly $30 billion worldwide.