The UAE imported at least 591 tonnes of untraceable or conflict-linked gold in 2024, maintaining its position as the world's second-largest gold hub after Switzerland. Sudan's rival forces, including the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, both supply Dubai through illicit border routes and commercial firms. Up to 90 percent of Sudanese gold originates from artisanal miners, creating an informal supply network that fuels domestic combat.
Key points
Sudanese warring factions actively exploit illicit gold exports to Dubai to finance their…: Sudanese warring factions actively exploit illicit gold exports to Dubai to finance their ongoing military operations.
Porous borders with neighbors like Egypt and Chad enable the Sudanese Armed Forces to rou…: Porous borders with neighbors like Egypt and Chad enable the Sudanese Armed Forces to route illicit gold toward the UAE.
International trade restrictions and 2023 UAE regulations have failed to stop massive inf…: International trade restrictions and 2023 UAE regulations have failed to stop massive inflows of sanctioned conflict metals.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The United Arab Emirates remains the key trading hub for smuggled gold and conflict gold, a new report from Switzerland’s Swissaid foundation has found.
Despite the introduction in 2023 of legislation intended to curb illegal flows, the UAE, which is now the world’s second largest gold trading hub after Switzerland, imported at least 591 tonnes of illicit gold into the country in 2024.
Illicit gold refers to that which was either smuggled to the UAE - most often to the gold markets of Dubai, the second largest Emirate - without being able to be traced, or that comes from countries at war, including Yemen, Sudan and Russia.
The UAE remains by far the main destination for gold linked to armed conflicts in Africa, according to Swissaid. It also continues to be a major destination for gold exports from countries subject to international sanctions.
“The findings of this study are deeply concerning. They show that the United Arab Emirates remains a hub for smuggled and conflict gold,” said Marc Ummel, head of Swissaid’s commodities unit and co-author of the study.
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