Dubai’s diamond trade reached a record $41.7 billion in 2025, surpassing a 14-year-old peak set in 2011 as both the value and physical volume of transactions climbed to new highs in the global precious stones hub.
The emirate handled 359.5 million carats across all diamond categories during the year, an increase of 42.5% from 2024, according to data from Dubai Customs released by DMCC, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. It was the first time Dubai recorded its highest annual diamond trade in both value and volume during the same year.
The previous value record of $40.9 billion was set in 2011. Total diamond trade rose 16.2% from $35.8 billion in 2024, adding $5.8 billion within a single year.
Natural diamonds drove the growth, generating $39.9 billion in trade during 2025 and accounting for 95.8% of the total value. Dubai traded 205.2 million carats of natural rough diamonds, the second-highest annual volume on record and about 34% more than in 2024. Natural polished diamond trade reached $18.7 billion, rising nearly 25% from the previous year.
The scale of the expansion becomes clearer when viewed over a longer horizon. Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, trade through Dubai has doubled in physical volume and grown by almost 140% in value, according to Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC. Over the past decade alone, trade value has risen 63% while physical volumes have increased 44%.
Beyond rough and polished diamonds, Dubai’s wider precious stones market expanded. Coloured gemstone trade reached a record $1.1 billion, growing 48% from 2024, supported by a 68.8% increase in imports and a 33.5% rise in re-exports. Synthetic and industrial diamonds accounted for about 39% of the total volume of diamond carats traded, reflecting the broader range of products moving through the emirate.
Bin Sulayem attributed the success to Dubai’s long-term strategy. “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,” he said. “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.”
Sources
- Gulf News — detailed breakdown of 2025 record, 42.5% volume growth, natural diamond performance, and DMCC CEO commentary
- Government of Dubai Media Office — official confirmation of $41.7 billion record and natural diamond contribution of $39.9 billion
- DMCC — primary announcement of record diamond trade, polished diamond figures, and post-pandemic growth metrics
