Central lab to offer pearl testing

The Dubai Central Laboratory in Karama will soon offer pearl testing to traders and the general public.

The new facility is part of a move to offer comprehensive testing services for gemstones, said Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Qader, Head of Calibration Unit.

The laboratory started testing diamonds in April and last month started testing gemstones. "Like tests done on gold samples, we take random samples of diamonds and other gemstones from shops and test them," he said.

Abdul Qader said the laboratory had started testing other gems, such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

He said the laboratory also receives a number of diamonds from the courts in dispute cases. The test is done within 24 hours, and the Dubai Central Laboratory is the first government laboratory in the country to offer this facility.