The International Colored Gemstone Association is a non-profit association which was founded in 1983 to represent the international gemstone industry. The ICA is the first and only organization working to increase the understanding, appreciation, and sales of colored gemstones worldwide.

ICA members, the top gemstone miners, cutters, and dealers throughout the world, adhere to the highest ethical standards: no dispute handled by the association's ethics and grievance committee has ever remained unresolved. The ICA's goal is to build closer international cooperation between all levels of the gemstone trade. ICA is working to develop a common language and consistent standards to improve communication between gemstone producing countries and gemstone consuming countries.

Through the ICA, the industry sponsors international gemstone education. The ICA sponsors the world's only gemstone information service, the ICA Gembureau in Israel and Idar-Oberstein, Germany. The Gembureau keeps the media informed about gemstone news around the world and provides photographs of gemstones and gemstone jewelry to the trade and consumer media worldwide.

A strategic initiative of the Dubai government, The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) was created to establish a commodity market place in Dubai, and provide industry-specific market infrastructure and a full range of facilities for the gold & precious metals, diamonds & coloured stones, energy and other commodities industries.

Rated ‘A’ by Standard & Poor’s, the world’s foremost provider of independent credit ratings DMCC is a free zone authority offering 100% business ownership, a guaranteed 50 year tax holiday and freehold property options.

The DMCC is committed to developing Dubai’s coloured gemstone and pearl trade. In response to regions gradual awareness of coloured gemstones and in a commitment to revive the pearling tradition in the UAE, DMCC launched a dedicated Coloured Stones & Pearls division in 2007. The division established the Dubai Gems Club and the Dubai Pearl Exchange as the mainstay trading platforms which provide traders with the services they need to continue to grow the market.

The Dubai Gems Club (DGC) is an exclusive trading platform created to facilitate and grow the trade in coloured gemstones in the Middle East region. Launched by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a Dubai Government initiative, the Dubai Gems Club offers its members opportunities to network and engage in dialogue with the objective of transacting business.

Dubai’s geographical location at the heart of a significant consumer market, and at the crossroads of the East and the West, offers a unique proposition to traders of gemstones. With the mining source also in close proximity, the emirate provides a perfect launch pad for businesses to reach their consumers.

Dubai has a robust economy which has witnessed consistent double digit growth in the last decade. Its rapidly-developing tourism industry is forecast to attract 12 million inbound visitors by 2014. Research also indicates that 109 per cent of all visitors to Dubai buy jewellery.

The region’s thirst for gold (the city of Dubai is popularly known as the ‘City of Gold’) has gradually translated to an awareness of coloured stones and diamonds. Today’s market is driven by the fashion-conscious consumer, and the gemstone sector has seen significant growth in the past few years as a result of consumer awareness. Increasing liquidity in the region, changing consumer preferences and the possibility to achieve greater creativity and variety have also turned the jewellery trade’s attention to coloured stones.

The steady rise in popularity of coloured stone jewelry is thus expanding the market to more and more volume buyers of coloured stones. The Dubai Gems Club encourages traders to capitalize on its value added facilities and maximize the opportunities for trade.

The Club also provides traders with the tools they need to continue to grow the market. Our domestic and international correspondents use their influential contacts throughout the field to report the inside story on trends, market analysis to help the timely and accurate reporting right at the source – no matter where in the world it is – to help buyers make the best strategic buying decisions.

The DGC is currently located in the Convention Centre, 7th Floor, Office 702, and will operating from these premises until relocation to DMCC’s landmark Almas Tower in 2008. The DGC’s prestigious facilities at Almas Tower will offer additional business services to members with easy connectivity to partners/members based in the free zone.

Dubai Gems Club is a subsidiary of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, a free zone centre established by Dubai Law No. 4 of 2001 and regulated by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority.