Academy to train jewellery professionals

A new academy aims to supply an army of professionals to an estimated 10,000 jewellery makers and traders in the city.

Opening for business next year, the ARY Academy of Gems & Jewelry will charge students Dh2, 000 to Dh15,000 for courses ranging from diamond analysis to pearl evaluation.

They will also learn how to find gold and tell whether a jewel is fake or real.

Dubai’s jewellery trade is worth around Dh5.5 billion and needs 120,000 workers, said the Academy president, Naheed Anees.

The industry represents 10 per cent of the emirate’s non-oil Gross Domestic Product making it the third largest contributor to the economy after construction and petrochemicals.

“However, this region suffers from a lack of uniform standards and human capital, with education being an ignored area,” Anees said.

“The Academy will feature a Placement Cell to help career aspirants and students become certified professionals.”

According to research by the institution’s gemology head, Marc Segers, over seven in 10 people in Dubai are unaware of manmade diamonds in the market, while nearly 60 per cent cannot name one coloured gem, like an emerald.

“Is a shinning red object a coloured diamond, a ruby or a piece of glass? They just don’t know,” said Segers.

Shops here keep 20 tons of gold on display at any give time, Segers continued, making the emirate a major player at the global level.

The Academy has been recognised by Knowledge Village, a government-run education and training cluster, and its diplomas will be issued by international jewellery groups like the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme.

Courses – a week to 17 months long – will be held in Jewel Plaza Building in Gold Souq. Admissions have already started and the Academy will open its doors Jan 5, 2008.