Continuation of Sudan’s Gold Export to Dubai…Reasons and Goals

Report – Rehab Abdullah

Despite the political tensions between Sudan and the Emirates, and in light of the stagnation of relations between the two countries, and the accusations against the Emirates of supporting and financing the Rapid Support Militia (RSF) in its war against the Sudanese army, the export of gold to the Emirates is still continuing, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Jibriel Ibrahim, who confirmed that part of the exported gold, it is still exported to Dubai despite the tense relations with the UAE due to the desire of some private sector exporters to do so, indicating that Sudan is seeking to find alternatives and new markets in this regard, and expecting a major shift in this regard in the near future.
Press reports indicated that the Sudanese government is still exporting gold in large quantities to the United Arab Emirates, the main financier of the rebel RSF Militia.
It is known that Sudan and the UAE exchanged expulsions of diplomats last December, the same period in which the pace of gold exports to the UAE from Sudan increased insanely.
Necessities permit prohibitions:
Economists confirm that the UAE has taken control of Sudanese gold exports since the imposition of Western sanctions on it due to traders’ preference for it to provide them with facilities, and this continued after the sanctions were lifted.
Media Secretary of the Gold Merchants and Exporters Division, Atef Ahmed, confirmed the continuation of gold exports from Sudan to the Emirates.
Although he confirmed during his talk to Sudan Events that the quantities being exported are not large, he said that exports continue at a reasonable and rewarding pace for companies.
Atef attributed the adherence to exporting gold to the Emirates because the export procedures face obstacles due to the interruption and fluctuation of the communications network and the Internet, which negatively affected the movement of money circulation, pointing to the ease of making financial transfers from the Emirates, at a time when it faces great complications with other countries.
Atef called for looking at Sudan’s economic interests and dealing with quick returns, and stressed the importance of the political decision having a beneficial effect on the economy.
Atef Ahmed attributed the export of gold to the Dubai Stock Exchange because the rest of the countries’ movement in transactions is restricted, but Dubai has facilities, which makes it preferable for Sudanese traders.
The UAE’s acquisition of gold:
The Central Bank of Sudan continued to announce that the Emirates would purchase all the gold produced, as it announced the export of gold to the Emirates in the first half of 2022 (January – June), whose revenues at that time amounted to one billion and 314 million and 962 thousand US dollars.
Quantities purchased:
The quantities purchased by the UAE, according to the statistical summary of Sudan’s foreign trade for the second half of the fiscal year 2022, according to the Bank of Sudan, amounted to about 21,832 kilograms of pure gold, which is about 5 kilograms more than what was exported for the same period in the year 2021.
(Events events) Follow-ups confirmed that in November and December 2023 and January 2024, shipments of gold were exported from Sudan to Abu Dhabi, exceeding three and a half tons of gold, which arrived there without obstacles and with the approval of the government.
The head of the preliminary body for gold exporters and producers, Abdul Hakim Maamour, announced the export of 3 tons and 700 kilograms of gold within three months.

The goal of exporting gold to Dubai:
Many wonder about the purpose of exporting gold to the Emirates, which is the first accused of supporting and financing the RSF Militia that is fighting the army and destroying Sudan.
Economist Dr. Mohammad Al-Nayer says that the trade balance with most trading partners has remained a deficit in recent years, but with the UAE it has achieved a surplus due to gold exports.
Government approval:
Some gold export companies say that the policies adopted by the state towards gold hinder its export and do not enable the Bank of Sudan to provide sufficient reserves of it.
Export justifications:
Two exporters justify exporting gold to Dubai because it is the closest market for Sudanese exporters. There is no other country nearby in the region that has the ability to deal with Sudanese gold except the UAE. Two exporters confirmed that the export is carried out with the knowledge and approval of the government.
It is evident that Sudanese gold exports are much larger than the reports announced by the Central Bank of Sudan as a result of the fluctuation of banking policies, in addition to the fact that 80% of mining is traditional. Therefore, the producer seeks to search for remunerative prices in light of the restrictions imposed on him by the banking authorities for the sake of a better return. Therefore, many seek to smuggle the yellow metal. .