The gemstone has been developed from natural red jasper extracted from the Al Siji region of Fujairah in collaboration with the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation. The launch marks an important step in highlighting the UAE’s geological resources while supporting the growth of a locally driven jewellery ecosystem.
The Emirati Goldsmiths Platform is a UAE-based jewellery initiative supported by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to promote local designers, goldsmiths and entrepreneurs. The platform aims to give Emirati talent wider visibility, industry access and commercial opportunities while strengthening the country’s jewellery value chain.
The platform’s participation at WJMES featured 20 Emirati designers from across the UAE, including seven female designers taking part for the first time. The showcase reflected the growing presence of local talent within the jewellery sector and highlighted efforts to create new opportunities for designers, entrepreneurs and emerging brands.
The newly introduced Emirati jasper forms the centrepiece of the platform’s latest initiative, connecting the UAE’s natural landscape with contemporary luxury craftsmanship. Its introduction also signals the expansion of the local jewellery value chain beyond design and retail into sourcing, procurement and material development.
As part of the launch, Emirati designer Fatima Al Muhairi, recognised as the first internationally accredited young Emirati specialist in gemmology, presented two signature pieces crafted using the locally sourced jasper.
The first creation, titled Spirit of the Emirates, traces the gemstone’s journey from Fujairah’s geological landscape to a finished jewellery piece. The design incorporates symbolic elements including the mountain where the jasper was extracted, a palm tree representing national heritage and architectural details inspired by Al Muwaiiji Fort. A natural pearl included in the piece connects the UAE’s traditional pearl-diving history with its emerging chapter of locally sourced gemstones.
The second creation, named Erth, meaning heritage, is a distinctive brooch shaped like a camel’s head. The piece combines jasper from Al Siji in Fujairah with a pearl from Al Suwaidi Pearls Farm in Ras Al Khaimah, bringing together two important elements of the UAE’s natural and cultural identity.
The Emirati jasper features a natural red colour, a hardness level of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and a waxy-to-glassy lustre, making it suitable for luxury jewellery applications. These qualities support its potential as a commercially viable gemstone for locally designed and produced jewellery collections.
Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the launch of the first Emirati gemstone represents a significant milestone for the UAE’s gold and jewellery sector. He noted that such initiatives strengthen the domestic jewellery value chain and support the competitiveness of local designers.
Mona Al Suwaidi, Director of the Executive Office of SCCI’s Chairman and in charge of the Emirati Goldsmiths Platform, said the development of Spirit of the Emirates was made possible through cooperation with the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation. She added that the platform’s role has expanded from supporting designers and direct sales to building an integrated system focused on entrepreneurship, supply-chain participation and access to locally sourced resources.
The launch positions Spirit of the Emirates as a milestone for the UAE jewellery industry, bringing together heritage, local resources and contemporary design while opening new possibilities for Emirati-made luxury jewellery.
