Mr. Muhammad Umar is the visionary Founder and Executive President of GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC, a Dubai-based company strategically positioned at the heart of the global diamond trade. With a sharp focus on innovation and a passion for excellence, he has established GEMMIS as a trusted name in the sourcing, cutting, polishing, and trading of 100% natural diamonds — from the finest colorless stones to the rarest fancy-colored diamonds on Earth.
Drawing on deep industry expertise, Mr. Umar leads with agility and an open mind, always ready to adapt to emerging markets and evolving trends. His leadership is guided by a commitment to ethical practices, full compliance with the Kimberley Process, and alignment with international best standards.
Beyond building GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC into a recognized player within Dubai’s Diamond Exchange, Mr. Umar’s mission is to shape the future of the natural diamond industry by championing transparency, innovation, and sustainable growth. His work is driven not just by the brilliance of diamonds but by the vision of creating lasting value, building trust, and inspiring progress in an ever-changing global marketplace.
Below, TradeGulf Magazine’s Editorial Team had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Muhammad Umar for this exclusive interview.
Q: What inspired you to establish GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC in Dubai, and how did the city’s position as a global diamond hub shape your founding vision and initial strategy?
A: I founded GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC out of a passion for natural diamonds and a vision to shape the industry with trust and innovation. Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), as a new era’s global diamond hub, offered the perfect platform, its strategic location, transparent trade environment, and the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) inspired me to build a company that blends tradition with modern adaptability, setting new standards of excellence.
Q: As a member of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE), how has this strategic relationship influenced the growth, operations, and compliance standards of your business?
A: Being a member of DMCC and the Dubai Diamond Exchange has been transformative for GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC. It has provided unmatched access to global markets, strengthened our operational efficiency, and reinforced the highest standards of compliance and ethical trading. This relationship ensures we stay adaptable, transparent, and aligned with international best practices while growing our business responsibly.
“Our Focus in the Natural Diamond Market: We concentrate on sourcing and manufacturing premium natural polished diamonds that remain unaffected by the massive production of Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).”
Inside the grand entrance hall of the New Uptown Tower, DMCC, I stand at the crossroads of ambition and opportunity.
Q: How does GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC drive innovation and transparency in the diamond market, and what role do you see Dubai playing in shaping the future of global diamond trading?
A: At GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC, we drive innovation by combining traditional expertise with modern sourcing, cutting, and polishing techniques, while ensuring full transparency through strict compliance and ethical practices. Dubai’s strategic position and forward looking trade environment make it a global hub, shaping the future of diamond trading by promoting trust, accessibility, and sustainable growth across markets.
Q: What distinguishes GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC’s approach to sourcing, certifying, and selling natural diamonds, and how do you maintain discipline and risk control in today’s competitive diamond industry?
A: GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC stands out because we personally inspect and verify every diamond, combining expertise with real time market insight.
- Our Focus in the Natural Diamond Market: We concentrate on sourcing and manufacturing premium natural polished diamonds that remain unaffected by the massive production of Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).
- Why? LGDs have largely replaced the lower color and lower clarity ranges of natural diamonds, as price conscious buyers can now access better apparent quality with LGD at a very smaller budget.
- Our position: We focus only on natural diamonds where true rarity and enduring value remain irreplaceable.
- Sizes: 1 Carat and above
- Colors: D to H
- Clarity: Flawless (FL) to Very Slightly Included (VS)
- Other Key Qualities: strictly non-fluorescent, free of impurities, manufactured with excellent cut, symmetry, and polish to maximize brilliance
At the same time, we remain adaptive to market trends. We have expanded into sourcing and manufacturing 100% natural fancy colored polished diamonds, the rarest of the rare: fancy intense and vivid pinks, blues, striking reds, yellow canaries, and other extraordinary hues.
- These natural fancy colored diamonds are among the scarcest treasures on Earth, far rarer than their colorless counterparts and virtually impossible to replicate in nature.
- Their extreme rarity and unique beauty make them highly coveted by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide.
“Our philosophy: By focusing on both the enduring brilliance of premium white diamonds and the unparalleled rarity of fancy colored diamonds, we turn unique opportunities into strategic advantages—always disciplined, always adaptable, and always faithful to the true value of natural diamonds.”
We believe in the potential of Lab Grown Diamonds and respect the clientele they currently serve. With their exceptional thermal conductivity and semiconducting properties, they are increasingly being explored for electronics, quantum computing, and advanced technologies.
Shaking hands with my mentor, Mr. Paul Duncombe, COO of Trans Atlantic Gem Sales, a leading global company specializing in the sales and tenders of rough and polished diamonds, including rare and exceptional stones such as pinks.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your goals for strengthening partnerships, expanding offerings, and advancing the ethical and technological standards in the diamond trade through collaborations within the DMCC ecosystem?
A: My goal is to strengthen partnerships that give access to the natural rarest and finest diamonds, while expanding into premium colorless and fancy colored diamonds.
I actively support the DMCC and Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) in their rise as not only the world capital for natural rough diamonds, but also as the emerging hub for polished diamonds and colored gemstones.
I believe in collective growth over competition. By encouraging the entry of new natural gemstone sources such as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires into the DDE’s tender and auction platform, my focus is on contributing selflessly to the ecosystem’s growth, helping Dubai stand as the global center for natural polished diamonds and colored precious stones.
In closing, Muhammad Umar exemplifies a new era of diamond leadership that truly values integrity, innovation, and collaboration. With his vision and unyielding commitment to responsible trade, GEMMIS DIAMONDS DMCC is not just shaping the future of Dubai as a diamond hub—but setting new standards for the global industry.
Editorial Staff 2025
