UAE Imports of Sudanese Gold Surge Amid Conflict, Becoming Hub for ‘Dubious Origin’ Metal
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates dramatically increased its gold imports from war-torn Sudan by 70% last year, according to a new report from the Swiss non-governmental organization Swissaid, which labels the Gulf nation as “a global hub for gold of dubious origin.”
The report, based on UAE foreign trade data from the UN Comtrade database, reveals that the UAE imported 29 tonnes of gold from Sudan, a significant jump from 17 tonnes the previous year. The country also brought in substantial, though unspecified, amounts from other African nations embroiled in conflict or instability, including Chad and Libya.
This surge is part of a broader trend that has seen the UAE become the world’s leading importer of African gold. In 2024, the Emirates imported a total of 748 tonnes of the precious metal from the continent, an 18% increase from 2023. This volume solidifies the UAE’s position as the second-largest global importer of gold, trailing only Switzerland.
The findings have cast a spotlight on the UAE’s role in the global gold trade, raising ethical questions about the origin of the metal. The ongoing civil war in Sudan has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, and the artisanal gold mining sector is often linked to armed groups and illicit financial flows.
Swissaid’s report directly connects the UAE’s booming imports to this context of conflict, suggesting the Gulf nation is a primary destination for gold whose provenance may be linked to violence and human rights abuses.
The UAE government has previously faced scrutiny over its involvement in Sudan. It has repeatedly denied accusations from international observers and Sudanese officials that it has been arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese army.
The latest trade data, however, underscores the complex economic ties that persist amid the fighting, with the UAE emerging as the dominant player in a gold trade that critics argue helps fuel the very conflict devastating Sudan.
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