Dubai does not mine a single diamond, and yet it has become one of the most important places in the world to buy and sell them. The latest figures make the case better than any sales pitch could, and they hint at where the whole industry is heading.
A record year, by value and by volume
According to DMCC, Dubai's diamond trade reached a record 41.7 billion US dollars in 2025, passing the previous high set back in 2011. More than 359 million carats moved through the city over the same period, the first time Dubai has hit a record for both value and volume in one year. Put simply, more diamonds are flowing through Dubai than ever before.
Natural diamonds are still the main event
Despite all the noise around lab-grown stones, natural diamonds made up roughly 96 per cent of the total trade value. Rough diamond volumes grew by around a third on the previous year, and polished natural trade climbed by nearly a quarter. For anyone wondering whether natural diamonds still hold their place, Dubai's numbers suggest they very much do.
Coloured gemstones are catching up
Trade in coloured gemstones also hit an all-time high of 1.1 billion dollars, up almost half year on year. That matches what we keep hearing from buyers: more people are looking beyond the classic white diamond and asking about sapphires, emeralds and rarer stones.
Lab grown is growing, but in a different lane
Synthetic and industrial diamonds now account for around 39 per cent of total carat volume passing through Dubai. That sounds significant, but by value they remain a small slice, which tells you these stones are mostly serving a different part of the market rather than replacing natural ones.
What it means if you are buying
A city that trades at this scale gives buyers a genuine advantage: wider selection, sharper pricing and real access to stones that might never reach a smaller market. It also means the industry is investing in Dubai for the long term, with the second Dubai Diamond Week planned for late October 2026.
If you are thinking about buying a diamond, there has rarely been a better time to do it in the city that sits at the centre of the trade. Visit Azzallure and see what that access looks like in person.