During its regular meeting held on June 18, 2025, at the Amiri Diwan, the Qatari Cabinet approved a new draft law to regulate the import, export, and transit of rough diamonds and referred it to the Shura Council for discussion and approval, according to the Cabinet’s official website.
This move was widely welcomed by jewelry traders in the country, with many seeing the proposed law as a timely development, given the unprecedented growth in diamond sales and purchases in the local market over the past period.
According to a report in Al-Sharq newspaper by journalist Hussein Arqab, traders emphasized that modern legislation for this sector will enable Qatar to adapt to global market changes and raise the local market’s efficiency to internationally competitive levels.
Al-Sharq quoted businessman Nasser Al-Haidar, Chairman of the Gold and Jewelry Committee, praising the Cabinet’s decision, describing it as “a long-awaited step.” He added that existing laws governing diamond trade date back several years, highlighting the need to modernize them to keep pace with the times—especially given the growing demand for diamonds in the Qatari market.
Al-Haidar further explained that the new law would strengthen Qatar’s position as a key hub for diamond trade in the Middle East and North Africa, leveraging its advanced air and sea fleets and free zones in Umm Al-Houl and Ras Bufontas.
Businessman Ali Al-Khulaifi told Al-Sharq that the draft law should include key provisions to enhance the regulatory system for diamonds, with quality certificates specifying the clarity and purity of each stone, ensuring transparency and boosting customer trust.
Al-Khulaifi also stressed the need to simplify import procedures for diamonds into Qatar, thereby enhancing the country’s position in the global gemstone trade.
According to Al-Sharq, speakers agreed that the initiative presents a strategic opportunity to advance national goals of diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on the natural gas sector, by supporting the jewelry and diamond trade as a promising sector that bolsters the role of the Qatari private sector in the national economy.
