UAE lab-grown diamond trading volumes rose by 91.5% in 2025. DMCC is now separating this ecosystem from natural diamonds and coloured stones, with applications extending from jewellery to advanced materials and technology.
What happened
On 30 August 2026, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced a dedicated Lab-Grown Diamond Vertical for businesses that produce, trade or use laboratory-grown diamonds. The new vertical is being kept distinct from DMCC's natural-diamond and coloured-stone ecosystems. According to DMCC, 76.9 million carats of lab-grown diamonds were traded in the UAE in 2025, with trading volume up 91.5% from 2024.
What changes in practice
This does not create a new tax or corporate obligation for businesses operating in Dubai. DMCC is formalising a fast-growing market as a distinct sector, creating a focal point for companies, investors and specialist service providers. The scope is broader than jewellery: DMCC also highlights applications for synthetic diamond materials in semiconductors, wafers, quantum technologies, space and precision engineering.
Who it applies to
The development is mainly relevant to producers, traders, jewellers and technology companies using synthetic diamonds or advanced materials that are considering the UAE as a commercial hub. It changes nothing for an ordinary consultancy, software or services business. The existence of a specialist vertical does not automatically make DMCC the best jurisdiction: permitted activities, trading flows, banking, storage requirements and target markets still need to be assessed together.
The exposure
The risk is setting up a structure simply because a new ecosystem exists without first testing whether the operating model requires it. In high-value stones and advanced materials, traceability, transaction documentation, anti-money-laundering controls, banking access and alignment between licensed activities and actual operations remain critical. A specialised free-zone ecosystem can improve access and connectivity, but it does not replace those controls.
What to do now
If your business operates in lab-grown diamonds or advanced materials, compare the new DMCC vertical with the structure you use today: permitted activities, costs, logistics, storage needs, banking and markets served. If you are entering the UAE from scratch, define where purchasing, selling, storage and cash collection will occur before selecting a licence. If your sector does not interact with this ecosystem, there is no action to take.
Sources
Published 31 August 2026 on the basis of public sources and official United Arab Emirates instruments. This is not legal or tax advice. Verify your position with a qualified professional before acting.