Taking place in Dubai from November 11th to 15th, 2024, the week-long event will feature three cornerstone events: the Dubai Diamond Conference (DDC), the Kimberley Process (KP) Plenary Session, and the Jewellery, Gem & Technology in Dubai (JGTD) trade show.
The biennial DDC will open the week on Monday, November 11th, under the theme “Thriving Under Pressure: Navigating the New Global Paradigms.” The conference will tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges, including supply chain pressures caused by global economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Key topics will include the increasing demand for transparency and traceability across the supply chain, new regulatory requirements, and the need for generic promotion to boost demand.
Among the prominent speakers headlining the event are Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group. The DDC will also host three expert panels covering short- and long-term industry pressures, traceability mandates, and the evolving regulatory landscape, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations affecting the diamond trade. The conference will conclude with a forward-looking discussion on strategies to ensure the diamond industry’s sustained growth.
Following the DDC, the Jewellery, Gem & Technology Dubai (JGT Dubai) trade show will run from November 12th to 14th. Since its debut in 2022, JGT Dubai has rapidly emerged as a major event on the global jewellery calendar and an important B2B sourcing opportunity for regional and international markets. The event will bring together gemstone dealers, jewellery manufacturers, and tech providers, offering three days of networking, trading, and business opportunities.
Capping off Dubai Diamond Week is the Kimberley Process (KP) Plenary Session, running from November 12th to 15th. This year’s session marks the culmination of the UAE’s second term as Chair of the Kimberley Process, led by DMCC’s Ahmed Bin Sulayem. The session will focus on the progress made during the UAE’s “Year of Delivery” and adopt key administrative decisions to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market and further regulate the international diamond trade.
Commenting on the significance of Dubai Diamond Week, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, stated, “With the UAE’s trade volumes for rough and polished diamonds rising 12 percent year-on-year to nearly 120 million carats in the first half of 2024, Dubai continues to solidify its position as the largest diamond trade hub in the world and the centre for global discussions on the future of the industry. By convening three world-leading events in one place, Diamond Week will provide extensive value through information sharing and networking, and serve as a critical platform to drive bold conversations and address key issues.”
Now in its sixth edition, the Dubai Diamond Conference has become a pivotal event for the global diamond industry, attracting participants from mining companies to luxury retailers. DMCC’s role in driving industry growth and positioning Dubai as a leading diamond trade hub has been further enhanced by its operation of the Dubai Diamond Exchange, the world’s largest diamond tender facility, home to over 1,300 diamond companies.