Dubai breaks diamond trade record with $41.7 billion in 2025
Coloured gemstones surge to historic $1.1 billion milestone
DUBAI – Dubai's diamond trade reached its highest level on record in 2025, with total trade climbing to $41.7 billion and physical volumes hitting 359.5 million carats, according to data released by Dubai Customs and announced by DMCC.
The figures represent the strongest annual performance ever recorded by the emirate's diamond sector. It is also the first time Dubai has achieved record highs in both trade value and physical volume in the same year.
The latest total surpassed the previous record of $40.9 billion, set in 2011, while trade volumes jumped 42.5 percent year-on-year. Overall diamond trade value increased 16.2 percent from $35.8 billion in 2024, adding $5.8 billion in a single year. Alongside diamonds, coloured gemstones also posted a record performance, with trade reaching $1.1 billion, up 48 percent compared with the previous year.
Long-term growth
The latest results highlight the rapid expansion of Dubai's diamond industry over recent years. Since 2020, the value of diamond trade passing through the emirate has risen by 139 percent, while traded volumes have doubled, reinforcing Dubai's role as a key gateway linking producing countries, manufacturing centres and consumer markets.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, said the figures reflected the success of Dubai's long-term strategy to build one of the world's most connected and transparent ecosystems for precious stones.
He noted that since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, physical trade volumes have doubled while overall trade value has increased by almost 140 percent. Natural polished diamonds alone have recorded value growth of 246 percent during the same period.
Bin Sulayem said Dubai has become the preferred partner for producers, manufacturers, traders and retailers by offering world-class infrastructure, regulatory certainty, access to finance and an advanced ecosystem supporting the global precious stones industry.
Natural dominance
Natural diamonds remained the backbone of Dubai's diamond trade in 2025, generating $39.9 billion and accounting for 95.8 percent of the sector's total trade value.
The strongest momentum came from rough diamonds. Dubai traded 205.2 million carats of natural rough diamonds during the year, marking the second-highest annual volume on record and an increase of about 34 percent compared with 2024.
Natural polished diamonds also recorded impressive gains. Trade value reached $18.7 billion in 2025, representing an annual increase of nearly 25 percent. Since 2020, trade in natural polished diamonds has grown by 246 percent in value, while the average value per carat has increased roughly eight to nine times.
Over the past decade, Dubai's overall diamond trade has expanded by 63 percent in value and 44 percent in volume, underlining the emirate's growing influence within the global diamond industry.
Expanding ecosystem
While natural diamonds continued to dominate, other segments of Dubai's precious stones market also delivered strong growth.
Coloured gemstones recorded their highest-ever trade value of $1.1 billion. Imports rose by 68.8 percent, while re-exports increased 33.5 percent, reflecting stronger activity across both sourcing and international distribution.
Synthetic and industrial diamonds also continued to strengthen their presence, together accounting for around 39 percent of the total diamond carat volume traded through Dubai during the year.