DMCC Launches Dedicated Lab-Grown Diamond Vertical
Dubai's DMCC, the emirate's commodities-focused free zone, has launched a standalone Lab-Grown Diamond Vertical, creating a dedicated platform for an industry increasingly driven by advanced manufacturing and technology alongside jewellery demand. The move comes as the UAE recorded its highest-ever lab-grown diamond trade volumes in 2025, with 76.9 million carats traded during the year, up 91.5% year-on-year, while the value of trade rose 7.5% to $1.3 billion. Imports and re-exports expanded at broadly similar rates, pointing to sustained growth across the UAE's trade flows rather than a shift concentrated in one segment.
"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," said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and CEO of DMCC. He added that the most significant opportunity ahead may lie beyond jewellery, in semiconductors, diamond wafers, quantum technologies, medical devices, aerospace and other advanced applications where the material's thermal, optical and mechanical properties become commercially important.
Trade Volumes More Than Doubled Since 2022
Volumes have more than doubled since 2022, climbing 109% from 36.8 million carats. The modern lab-grown diamond industry has been built on three foundational markets: China as the dominant centre for industrial-scale production and research, India as a powerhouse for CVD growth, manufacturing and processing, and the United States as a pioneer in diamond-growth technology and the industry's largest consumer market. Japan, Israel and the UK are also established hubs for research, industrial applications and trade. The UAE's total diamond trade, combining natural and synthetic stones, reached a record $41.7 billion in 2025.
The new vertical will bring together global and regional producers, manufacturers, traders, investors, finance providers, technology companies and industrial users, while strengthening Dubai's links with the industry's main global markets. It remains distinct from DMCC's natural diamond and coloured stone activities, reflecting the sector's focus on scalable production, technical specifications and industrial applications rather than the trade in mined stones.
