Dubai Overtakes Antwerp as the New Diamond Capital

Dubai Jewellery News: Dubai overtakes as India’s gateway

For decades, Antwerp stood as the beating heart of the diamond world, supplying India’s vast polishing industry with rough stones. That dominance, however, is steadily fading. Dubai has now emerged as the primary gateway for India’s diamond sector, reshaping global supply chains and reducing Europe’s historic influence. This Dubai Jewellery News report examines how the shift is redefining the balance of power in the diamond trade and solidifying Dubai’s role as the epicenter of the global industry.

Dubai has superseded Antwerp as the new diamond capital of the world
Image Credit: Stockshots

Why Indian buyers pivoted to Dubai

The transformation has been driven by practical considerations. Dubai’s proximity to India reduces shipping times and costs, while its tax advantages and streamlined regulations make transactions more efficient. The Dubai Diamond Exchange hosts regular tenders, allowing Indian manufacturers to secure rough stones directly from producers with greater transparency. The emirate’s central location between African mining hubs and Asian consumer markets also ensures a steady flow of goods. For Indian traders navigating tight margins and rising costs, Dubai has become not just a convenience but a necessity.

Antwerp loses ground

Antwerp’s decline is stark. Once commanding nearly 80% of the world’s diamond trade, the Belgian city has struggled with increasing regulatory burdens, higher costs, and declining liquidity. Many Indian buyers now bypass Antwerp altogether, choosing Dubai as a more agile and business-friendly hub. While Antwerp retains its reputation for high-value stones and legacy expertise, its influence is waning as traders prioritize efficiency and scale over tradition.

The ripple effect on global trade

Dubai’s ascent has created ripples across the global diamond ecosystem. Producers in Africa now view Dubai as their first stop for tenders, knowing they will reach Indian buyers directly. This direct channel reduces the need for intermediaries, further eroding Antwerp’s role. For Dubai, the result is a surge in both rough and polished trade volumes, with billions of dollars now flowing through its exchange annually. The city’s ability to act as both a trading and pricing hub has transformed it into a key decision-making center for the global diamond industry.

From unpolished diamonds, to cut diamonds and finished diamond jewelry, Dubia is the new one-stop-shop diamond hub of the world
Image Credit: Stockshots

The future of India-Dubai diamond ties

The partnership between India’s manufacturing might and Dubai’s trading efficiency appears set to deepen. As Indian polishing centers continue to dominate global supply, their reliance on Dubai will only grow. At the same time, Dubai benefits from hosting not only tenders but also the financial, logistical, and security infrastructure that underpins the trade. The story of Antwerp out and Dubai in reflects more than just a geographical shift — it represents the evolution of the diamond industry itself. With this trajectory, Dubai is poised to keep strengthening its crown as the world’s most important gateway for India’s diamond sector.

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