Investigations reveal that the United Arab Emirates has acquired more than $100 million in gold bullion illicitly obtained by paramilitary forces from the Sudanese central bank and its state-operated refinery, according to Semafor. This development highlights the deep integration of illicit gold flows between the two nations as the civil war in Sudan persists.

Data indicates that the bilateral trade volume between the UAE and Sudan reached just over $1 billion throughout 2025, according to statements from an Emirati official. The scale of the shadow economy is significant, with research from the charity Swissaid estimating that nearly $30 billion worth of undeclared artisanal gold is exported from African nations into Dubai on an annual basis.

The gold trade is reportedly financing a violent civil war in Sudan. Armed militias involved in the conflict have been documented utilizing advanced weaponry, including drones and air defense systems, as well as armored personnel carriers purportedly supplied by the UAE. These groups face ongoing accusations of committing ethnic cleansing and genocide against non-Arab communities within the region.

Key Financial Data Summary

Why It Matters

The reliance on illicit precious metals to fund regional proxy wars creates a significant compliance risk for international banking institutions and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange. When state-level actors or militias utilize stolen central bank assets to finance military hardware, it bypasses international financial safeguards. This trend threatens to invite more aggressive sanctions from global regulatory bodies, potentially forcing the UAE to implement stricter traceability protocols for gold imports to maintain its status as a premier global bullion trading hub.