The bi-annual Dubai Diamond Conference, organized by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), has opened at the JAFZA One Convention Centre as part of the inaugural Dubai Diamond Week, according to Rough&Polished. With the theme “Thriving Under Pressure: Navigating the New Global Paradigms,” this one-day conference provides a key platform for discussing the diamond industry’s most urgent issues.
De Beers CEO Al Cook delivered the keynote, highlighting Dubai’s role as a global bridge in the diamond trade, linking Africa’s resources with international markets. He praised DMCC’s executive chairperson, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, also the outgoing Kimberley Process chair, for enhancing transparency in the KP and ensuring ethical diamond sourcing. As Cook explained, “Dubai’s growth has positioned it as a prime marketplace,” illustrating its resilience amid global economic shifts, according to the report.
Bin Sulayem encouraged industry leaders to focus on building demand rather than pitting natural diamonds against lab-grown ones. “It’s about positive narratives that sustain both markets,” he noted. He suggested that lab-grown diamonds, rather than threatening natural stones, offer an opportunity to bolster employment and innovation within the industry.
Dubai Diamond Week also includes a Kimberley Process plenary session and the JGT Dubai trade show for jewelry, gemstones, and technology.
