Dubai’s jewelry designers are looking beyond gold’s price problem

Dubai-based jewelry designers are being offered a new route into international markets as high gold prices and rising business costs put pressure on the industry.

The Dubai Gold Designers Business Group, which represents 50 jewelry designers, founders, and related creative businesses, has unveiled a strategy to help members reach international buyers, retailers, and distributors and generate new export opportunities.

The group, operating under the umbrella of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, will focus on three areas: education and member development, business development and partnerships, and international representation and visibility.

Through the initiative, members will have access to workshops and masterclasses, business matchmaking opportunities and partnerships, and participation in international exhibitions, trade events, and professional platforms. The aim is to generate measurable opportunities, including introductions to buyers, retailers and distributors, export leads, market intelligence and international partnerships.

The move comes as UAE jewellers face high gold prices, rising operating costs and a consolidating market. Global jewelry demand fell to 278 tonnes in the latest quarter, its lowest level since the pandemic, according to the World Gold Council. The slower demand is putting greater pressure on Dubai’s jewelry businesses to reach new customers and international markets.

The strategy is designed to help members expand internationally while preserving the commercial independence and individual identity of their brands.

“Our ambition is to give Dubai-based jewelry designers and entrepreneurs greater access to the relationships, knowledge and international platforms that can help them grow sustainably. At the same time, we want the international presence of our members to reflect Dubai’s strength as a destination for creativity, entrepreneurship, craftsmanship and business,” said Maha Al Sibai, chairwoman of the Dubai Gold Designers Business Group.

The group is also exploring a three-year International Representation Program. The first year would establish and pilot the model, the second would expand buyer and media partnerships, and the third would assess its commercial impact and longer-term funding. Future programs will be measured through buyer meetings, business leads and orders, export opportunities, partnerships, media exposure and member development.

A key priority will be to strengthen the international presence of Dubai’s jewelry design community through selected exhibitions, trade events, and professional platforms in priority markets.

International events will be assessed based on buyer quality, market access, export potential, media reach, cost and alignment with Dubai’s economic priorities.

The group’s previous international engagement has included activities in Mumbai, Jaipur and Bangkok, as well as professional development initiatives in Bahrain and Florence.

The group said its long-term aim is to help UAE-based jewelry businesses expand internationally while raising the global profile of Dubai’s jewelry design sector.