UAE affirms robust regulatory framework for the gold sector, clarifies Sudan concerns

Ministry outlines expanded checks, strict audit systems and full alignment with global compliance standards to ensure the integrity of the UAE gold trade

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Trade has reaffirmed that the UAE’s gold sector operates under one of the most secure and transparent systems in the world. The fresh clarification follows recent reports discussing the share of gold arriving from Sudan and the level of oversight placed on these imports. Officials said the country has built a system that prevents any unverified or high risk gold from entering the legal market, and that the rules in place have only become stronger over the past five years.

In a detailed statement, the ministry explained that the UAE is the second largest gold trading hub globally and receives gold from countries across every continent. Because of this wide network, the government has expanded its checks to ensure the security and integrity of every shipment. These checks include strict anti-money laundering protocols, identity verification, annual audits and full monitoring at all entry points.

The ministry added that the UAE’s procedures follow the standards set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development for gold coming from conflict affected or high-risk areas. In some areas, the country’s rules even go beyond those benchmarks. Refiners and precious metals dealers must carry out extra due diligence before onboarding any supplier linked to these regions. This includes reviewing the history of the supplier, the source of the gold and all shipment details. Many companies have taken part in training programmes to fully understand these requirements.

Fresh figures released by the Ministry show the scale of the gold market. In 2024, gold worth around $ 186 billion passed through the UAE. Gold linked to Sudan was valued at about $ 1.97 billion, which is just over 1% of the total. Officials said this amount also makes up less than 0.4% of the UAE economy, highlighting that Sudan’s share remains limited within the wider flow of global gold entering the country.

The Ministry also noted that its risk-based approach and strong oversight have helped reduce the chance of conflict affected gold entering the legal supply chain. Officials said the trust shown by exporters around the world is a result of the consistency and clarity of the UAE’s standards. At the same time, global attention on gold from Africa has continued. Some international reports have presented higher estimates of African gold entering the UAE. One study suggested that more than 700 tonnes of gold came from African countries in 2024. Another estimate said the UAE may have received around 29 tonnes from Sudan last year. These differing figures reflect the challenges of tracking gold from areas with political tension or informal mining, where record keeping is often weak.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade said it will continue to work with international organizations to strengthen oversight and ensure the UAE’s reporting practices meet the highest global standards. Officials added that the country remains committed to maintaining a gold market that is open, transparent and trusted by the global community.

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