Recently, a noteworthy trade shift has caught attention. Sudan's gold export pattern has undergone a significant change over the past year, reflecting the complex geopolitical game in the Middle East.

Specifically, Sudan's gold exports to the United Arab Emirates plummeted from 22.2 tons in 2024 to 8.2 tons in 2025, a decline of over 60%. Even more striking, the UAE's share of Sudan's gold exports dropped directly from 99% to 56%. This is not just simple trade fluctuation but a complete break between two former allies.

The Sudanese government responded quickly. As relations with the UAE deteriorated, they began urgently seeking alternative markets. Egypt became the new major buyer, with Sudan exporting 4.9 tons of gold to Egypt in 2025, worth $517 million, nearly a 20-fold increase compared to the previous year. At the same time, exports to Oman doubled to 0.7 tons, and exports to Qatar more than doubled. Even Ethiopia, which had never imported Sudanese gold before, started receiving shipments.

The fundamental reason for this shift is quite clear. Since the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war in April 2023, relations between the Sudanese military and the UAE have worsened. In May last year, Sudan officially announced the severance of diplomatic ties, repeatedly accusing Abu Dhabi of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the Sudanese government. Although the UAE denied these allegations, mutual trust had long since collapsed.

Interestingly, in total, Sudan's official gold exports in 2025 only amounted to 14.7 tons, less than the 22.9 tons in 2024. However, due to a sharp rise in international gold prices, the revenue from exports over the two years remained roughly the same. But this is only official data; Sudan's National Gold Company has long stated that a large amount of illegal trade and unregistered gold circulation are not included in the statistics, especially production from small miners.

Even more concerning is that, as conflicts continue, illegal gold sales have become an important channel for various parties to raise funds. The scale of this gray trade will only grow larger. Sudan's situation is becoming increasingly complex, and changes in gold trade are just a microcosm of this crisis.