A technology company is cultivating diamonds in the desert

Diamonds are the hardest substance known to mankind — and finding one in nature is a monumental challenge.

For millennia, humans have dug deep into the Earth in pursuit of diamonds, creating some of the largest manmade excavation sites in places like Russia and South Africa, with depths reaching as far as 625 meters (2,050 feet) below the surface.

This demanding process takes a toll on both the environment and workers, with hazardous working conditions and destructive impacts on ecosystems.

However, mining isn’t the only method for obtaining diamonds. The first lab-grown diamond (LGD) was created in the 1950s, and advancements in technology have made it possible to grow gem-quality crystals at a fraction of the cost — up to 80% cheaper — without the environmental and ethical issues associated with mining.

Artificially growing diamonds opens up the possibility of producing them in even the most unlikely places — such as the desert.

The UAE is a world leader in diamond trade, both importing and exporting them, but it lacks local diamond mines. This gap presented an opportunity for entrepreneur Mohamed Sabeg to not only trade diamonds but to cultivate them.

In 2022, Sabeg co-founded 2DOT4 Diamonds in Dubai, becoming the first in the UAE to produce, cut, and polish lab-grown diamonds.

“Our vision was to bring the mine to the customer,” says Sabeg. “Rather than shipping diamonds globally, we aim to produce and sell them locally.”

The process of diamond creation

The name 2DOT4 is derived from the refractive index of a diamond — a measure of how much slower light moves through a diamond compared to air, approximately 2.4 times.

For Sabeg, naming the company after a fundamental characteristic of diamonds reflects that lab-grown stones are indistinguishable from natural ones.

“The only difference is that we control the pressure, heat, and gases,” Sabeg explains. “With natural diamonds, the Earth controls all of that.”

To create a diamond, you begin with a 'seed' — a tiny piece of diamond, either lab-grown or mined, typically between 0.3 and 0.6 millimeters thick. 2DOT4 even manufactures its own seeds from diamonds grown in-house.

The seed is placed in a reactor, where it is exposed to gases like hydrogen, methane, oxygen, and argon. It faces a pressure of up to 180 torrs — about two-thirds the pressure found at the top of Mount Everest — and is heated to 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit). This process allows carbon to gradually accumulate on the seed.

From there, it’s simply a matter of time as the diamond grows in size.

“The growth rate of a diamond is controlled by adjusting various parameters: slower growth results in higher quality,” explains Sabeg.

On average, 2DOT4 grows its diamonds at a pace of around 0.01 millimeters per hour. This means each day, the diamond grows by about the thickness of two sheets of paper.

Once the diamond reaches a minimum height of five millimeters, it becomes a 'block' with three possible paths. It can be cut into smaller seeds to start the growth process again, or, depending on demand, 2DOT4 may cut and polish it. The finished gem is then either sold to jewelers and designers or crafted into jewelry in-house.

A global gem

Currently, the US, China, and India lead in lab-grown diamond production, with China and India together responsible for more than two-thirds of the global output, according to diamond industry analyst and consultant Paul Zimnisky.

In addition to jewelry, lab-grown diamonds are widely used across various industries, particularly for manufacturing tools that cut through tough materials like concrete, marble, and metals.

For instance, China has a long history of producing synthetic diamonds for industrial applications, which gives them the expertise and infrastructure to be a leading producer of man-made diamonds for jewelry as well,” explains Zimnisky.

India, a long-time leader in diamond cutting and polishing, has also embraced lab-grown diamond technology, rapidly expanding its production. Last year, the country implemented tax reforms and committed additional funding to grow its synthetic diamond industry.

With the UAE's position as a major diamond trading hub and its efforts to diversify beyond oil, entering the lab-grown diamond industry could be a significant move for the country's economy, says Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO and executive chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), a global trade hub that hosted the inaugural Lab-Grown Diamond Symposium.

“The rise of the lab-grown diamond industry represents the fusion of technology and commerce, and the potential it offers is immense. We are thrilled to see Dubai taking a leading role in this transformative phase,” Bin Sulayem adds.

“Sixty years ago, if you told someone that a diamond was synthetic or lab-grown, they wouldn’t give it a second glance,” he reflects. However, today’s younger generations, who are more focused on ethical and environmental concerns tied to mining, are drawn to the affordability of luxury goods. “The industry has to evolve to meet these demands,” he notes.

However, breaking into the LGD market could be tough. Zimnisky points out that competing with India and China at scale will be a challenge unless there is a competitive edge or a specialized niche.

A sparkling future

Other companies in the UAE are following 2DOT4's lead by launching their own lab-grown diamond ventures in Dubai. This includes Eviqe Diamonds, a subsidiary of the HRA Group, which recently set up a production facility in the Emirate. At the same time, local brands like Etika and Eayni are exclusively showcasing designs made from lab-grown gems.

For the DMCC, the aim is to drive production entirely in-house, enhancing the final product’s value and bolstering the local industry.

“Our message to the lab-grown diamond industry is clear: don’t focus on selling the diamonds, focus on perfecting the final product,” says Bin Sulayem.

For Sabeg, the vision is that 2DOT4’s innovations are laying the groundwork for the future of LGD production in a country that currently imports more diamonds than any other nation in the world.

“We aim to set a new benchmark for the industry,” he states.