Dubai has further strengthened its position as a global hub for precious metals trading and innovation, as highlighted by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) during the 13th edition of the Dubai Precious Metals Conference (DPMC), which saw record attendance.

The forum also marked the official launch of DMCC FinX – a new platform designed to connect institutional capital, trade finance and fintech innovators. With more than 1,500 companies in its gold and precious metals ecosystem and annual trade exceeding USD 186 billion, Dubai continues to consolidate its role as a global centre for both physical and digital commodities.

The conference, held at the luxury hotel Atlantis The Palm, brought together more than 1,000 industry leaders from bullion trading, financial institutions, regulatory authorities and technology providers – the highest attendance in its history.

DMCC FinX: a new platform linking capital, trade and technology

During the conference, DMCC officially unveiled DMCC FinX, presenting a strategic initiative that unites financial institutions, fintech platforms, alternative lenders, digital asset innovators and global trading houses within a single ecosystem. The platform builds on DMCC’s existing infrastructure, including the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange, the Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation, the DMCC Crypto Centre and the DMCC Tradeflow platform.

«Last year alone, the United Arab Emirates recorded more than USD 186 billion in precious metals trade,» said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC. «As trade, technology and finance become increasingly intertwined, the industry needs a platform where institutional capital, fintech innovators and real-world commodity players can interact seamlessly. DMCC FinX delivers precisely that.»

Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, delivered the opening keynote, emphasising that tokenisation and blockchain are unlocking new levels of liquidity, transparency and efficiency in global supply chains. “With our strong regulatory framework and our expanding trade partnerships, the UAE is well positioned to lead the next chapter in the global precious metals trade,” he said.

DPMC 2025 focused on key themes shaping the industry, including tariffs, tokenisation, the development of new trade corridors, the harmonisation of global standards and responsible artisanal mining. Senior representatives from the World Gold Council, CME Group, the London Bullion Market Association, the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Shanghai Gold Exchange took part in the discussions.

Tokenisation means that an asset — whether physical (such as gold, real estate or artwork) or digital (such as data, rights or financial instruments) — is converted into digital units («tokens») on a blockchain. These tokens then represent ownership, usage rights or value shares of the underlying asset.

Record Volumes Supported by Dubai Partnership

In one of the most anticipated speeches of the conference, SGE Chairman Yu Wenjian said that 2025 had become a turning point for the precious metals market. He pointed to rising global demand for safe-haven assets, which had driven gold and silver to historic highs.

The SGE itself is experiencing record momentum: trading volumes surpassed 44 trillion yuan this year, a 43 percent increase year-on-year — the highest level in the exchange’s history. The SGE’s international board has also expanded significantly over the past decade, growing from USD 14.5 billion to USD 6 trillion in turnover, with more than 100 global institutional members now active. China has been the UAE’s largest trading partner for more than a decade. Bilateral non-oil trade surpassed USD 100 billion for the first time in 2024.

Yu praised Dubai’s rise as a pivotal global hub: «The UAE will play an increasingly central role in China’s international precious metals strategy,» he said, noting nearly a decade of partnership with DMCC. He announced plans to deepen cooperation, including exchange programmes, encouraging more Dubai-based firms to join the SGE and expanding the presence of Chinese companies in the UAE.

Strengthening China–UAE ties amid major market shifts

Yu said that the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE in 2024, along with recent high-level agreements in Beijing, was opening new avenues for cooperation in metals trading, market infrastructure and financial governance. Among SGE’s priorities for 2026 are strengthening the Shanghai Gold Benchmark, expanding Hong Kong-linked contracts and attracting more overseas institutions — particularly from advanced markets — into China’s gold ecosystem.

Calling for greater unity in turbulent times, Yu urged global trading hubs to work more closely to safeguard market stability. «Only through cooperation can we build a stable global precious metals market,» he said.

As industries worldwide adapt to new trade dynamics, DMCC’s new FinX platform signals Dubai’s ambition not only to remain a leading hub for physical precious metals, but also to help shape the future of how value is traded, financed and secured across global markets.