Dubai Diamond Conference to Push Natural Diamond Industry Toward ‘Strategic Reset’

By Karen Dybis | October 21, 2026

Dubai Diamond Conference organizers say they want the event to be a catalyst for an industry-wide reset where producers to traders to retailers come together to establish a new playbook for natural diamonds.

The three-day conference set for Oct. 25–27 is part of Dubai Diamond Week and is organized by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). The theme for the DMCC’s biennial flagship event is Diamond 2.0: A Strategic Reset Reigniting Desire, Unlocking New Value, says Neil Ventura, special advisor for DMCC’s precious stones ecosystem and panel moderator.

“Our focus is on two parallel priorities. The first is reigniting consumer desire for natural diamonds by strengthening their proposition around rarity, provenance, and meaning,” Ventura tells JCK. “The second is exploring new sources of long-term value, including the potential for rare, authenticated natural diamonds to develop into an investment category.

“Ultimately, we want the conference to move beyond discussion toward practical action and greater industry alignment. That is what is needed to secure the long-term future of natural diamonds,” Ventura explains.

The conference begins with welcome remarks from DMCC executive chairman and CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem and a keynote speech by H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, minister of economy and tourism of the United Arab Emirates.

Most of the formal programming takes place Oct. 26, a day that will focus on thought leadership, strategic dialogue, and industry insights.

Panel sessions include a discussion on how to rebuild trust in the diamond trade with London Diamond Bourse president Charlotte Rose; a look at diamond-market realities including The Clear Cut’s Olivia Landau and Tenoris’ Edahn Golan; and a conversation on what lessons the natural diamond industry can take from the revival of Swiss watchmaking.

Ventura notes that this Swiss Parallel conversation will be based on a study DMCC developed with OriginAll Luxury, and it is this kind of dialogue that makes Dubai Diamond Conference an important way to build consensus and identify practical steps to strengthen the future of natural diamonds.

“The lesson is that the Swiss watch industry did not recover by competing on price or trying to reclaim lost volumes, or debating challenger terminology. It rebuilt its position around craftsmanship, heritage, exclusivity, and long-term value,” Ventura says. “We believe natural diamonds have a similar opportunity. Their geological rarity, finite supply and provenance are qualities that cannot be manufactured. The challenge is making those attributes more meaningful to today’s consumers.”

These topics are only going to become more relevant over time and as consumers have more choice about what diamonds they purchase—like the debate between natural or lab grown, for example. The conference also positions Dubai and the DMCC in its role as a global diamond hub and a credible place to discuss the industry’s future, Ventura adds.

“The natural diamond industry is at a defining moment. We are seeing fundamental shifts in consumer preferences and on the supply side, growing competition from lab-grown diamonds that is putting pressure on the industry. These challenges have been building for some time, and we believe that the industry has reached a point where it needs to come together and reset for a clear path forward,” he says.

“The scale of the challenge becomes clear when you look at what is happening in the market. In the United States, lab-grown diamonds accounted for 61% of engagement ring purchases by units in 2025. That tells us consumer behavior has profoundly changed, and continues to change, particularly among younger generations, and the natural diamond industry needs to respond differently moving forward.”

In addition to Dubai Diamond Week and the conference, Jewellery, Gem & Technology in Dubai will run from Oct. 27–29 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre. It is organized by Informa Markets and Italian Exhibition Group and is the Middle East’s only B2B exhibition dedicated exclusively to the international jewelry industry.

(Photo courtesy of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre)