Three candidates from India, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are running for president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) in an election that reveals contrasting approaches to the organization and the industry. s (WFDB) in an election that reveals contrasting approaches to the organization and the industry.

Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) vice president Mehul Shah, Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) president Lin Qiang, and Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem have put their names forward ahead. Israel’s Yoram Dvash is standing down after completing the maximum two three-year terms.

The key theme is a split between preserving the federation’s traditional, experience-led model and pushing a younger, reform-minded approach.

Candidate positions

Mehul Shah is presented as the continuity candidate: he wants to strengthen the federation, add members, and restore its earlier influence, but he argues that younger leaders should first gain experience in junior roles.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem is linked with a reformist, younger-leaning camp that wants fresh leadership and modernization, with David Troostwyk and Molefi Letsiki on the same informal slate.

Lin Qiang’s role is more institutionally grounded, with recent WFDB and Shanghai ties showing China’s growing involvement in the federation’s outreach and industry strategy.

Industry context

The election is happening against broader concern about the WFDB’s relevance as lab-grown diamonds reshape the market and as influence shifts toward bodies like the World Diamond Council.

WFDB leadership tracker: track the Executive Committee, presidential election rules, and potential future candidates from India, China, and the UAE.