QFZ launches Qatar Diamond Exchange at Ras Bufontas Free Zone

QFZ launches regulated diamond trading platform at Ras Bufontas Free Zone

The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) has launched the Qatar Diamond Exchange (QDE), a regulated platform for trading rough and polished diamonds and precious stones located within the Ras Bufontas Free Zone. The exchange consolidates trading, membership, vaulting, certification and related industry services on a single regulated campus and is designed to support Qatar National Vision 2030 by expanding the country’s role in international diamond trade.

“The Qatar Diamond Exchange represents an important step in Qatar’s efforts to further diversify its economy and strengthen its position as a trusted participant in global diamond trade,” said HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al-Thani, CEO of QFZ and Chairman of QDE. “Building on Qatar’s participation in the Kimberley Process since 2021, we have established the regulatory and institutional foundations needed to support the growth of a new strategic sector for the State. Through QDE, we are bringing together the full diamond and precious stones value chain within a single regulated ecosystem spanning trading, storage, vaulting, auctions and tenders, and industry support services.”

The exchange offers an institutional-grade operating environment with a secure trading floor and private negotiation suites for buyers and sellers. On-site facilities include an institutional-grade vault protected by biometric access controls, round-the-clock security and surveillance, plus customs and certification services to streamline imports and exports of rough diamonds.

• Membership is open to companies engaged in diamond trading, manufacturing, cutting and polishing, as well as service providers and industry organisations.
• Members will have access to trading licences, on-site assortment and independent valuation services, secure vault facilities and specialist insurance.
• Qualifying businesses operating within the free zone can benefit from 100 percent foreign ownership and 0 percent corporate tax.

QFZ said the exchange will also host a programme of rough and polished diamond tenders, linking producers in Africa and Asia with buyers across Europe and the Gulf. The move follows Qatar’s accession as a full participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in 2021, and a legal framework update: under Law No. (15) of 2025, QFZ has been designated as the country’s competent authority for the Kimberley Process, with Qatar’s free zones serving as the exclusive authorised entry and exit points for rough diamonds.

By centralising trading, vaulting and certification within a regulated free-zone setting, QDE aims to reduce logistical friction for international trade in diamonds and precious stones while providing enhanced security and compliance controls. The integrated model is intended to attract a range of industry participants from dealers and cutters to insurers and certifiers.

Looking ahead, QFZ plans to position the exchange as a regional hub for diamond tenders and auctions, and to cultivate connections between producing countries in Africa and Asia and buying markets in Europe and the Gulf. The success of that strategy will hinge on the QDE’s ability to draw established trade houses, provide trusted valuation services and scale tender volumes under the Kimberley Process framework and the free zone’s regulatory terms.