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India targets Saudi Arabia’s gem market with SAJEX 2025

04 september 2025

In a bid to massively increase exports of cut and polished diamonds, coloured gemstones and finished jewellery, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has launched SAJEX – The Saudi Arabia Jewellery Exposition, a new B2B platform to tap into one of the most promising luxury markets in the Middle East.

The exhibition will be held in Jeddah from September 11-13 and is expected to feature over 200 exhibitors across over 250 booths. It is co-organised by the Government of India, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the diplomatic and industrial communities of the two countries.

The launch of SAJEX aims to boost India’s gemstone exports to Saudi Arabia, a $1.1 trillion economy with a growing demand for luxury jewellery, gemstones and designer items.

Demand is particularly high for premium gemstones such as solitaires, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and diamond jewellery. The Saudi jewellery market is expected to actually double to $8.34 billion by 2030 from $4.56 billion today.

According to Kirit Bhansali, Chairman of the GJEPC, Saudi Arabia is emerging as an attractive destination for gemstone exports. India, with its vast experience in diamond cutting and coloured stone processing, he noted, can meet the region’s “growing demand for authenticity, quality and innovation in gemstone jewellery.”

The exhibition will feature diamond solitaires, coloured gemstone assemblies, fancy cuts, 18-22 carat gemstone jewellery, lab-grown diamond collections and bridal jewellery, as well as the latest technology in gemstone setting, certification and traceability. The event will also feature the Global Jewellery Investment Forum, jointly organised by GJEPC and the Kingdom’s Ministry of Investment.

Ahead of SAJEX 2025, a travelling exhibition was held in the holy city of Mecca, demonstrating the interest of Saudi companies in actively participating in the Kingdom’s rapidly growing gems and jewellery sector.

Hélène Tarin, Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished