A new SwissAid report says 591 tonnes of illicit gold worth an estimated $74 billion reached the UAE in 2024, highlighting Dubai's continued role as a major destination for smuggled African gold and supplies from conflict-hit countries.
ABU DHABI (Somali Report) - The United Arab Emirates remains a major destination for gold smuggled out of Africa and countries affected by armed conflicts, despite efforts by authorities to tighten regulations requiring traders to verify the origins of the precious metal, according to a new report by SwissAid.
The Swiss-based non-governmental organisation said at least 591 tonnes of illicit gold reached the UAE in 2024, with an estimated value of $74 billion, based on gold prices as of November 1, 2026.
SwissAid defines illicit gold as metal secretly removed from its country of origin, traded without a traceable supply chain or sourced from countries affected by armed conflict and international sanctions.
The UAE, now the world's second-largest gold trading hub after Switzerland, introduced new regulations in 2023 requiring gold refineries to conduct checks on the origin of gold and ensure compliance with supply-chain standards.
However, SwissAid said the measures had made little difference to the flow of illicit gold into Dubai, with data showing a slight increase in gold smuggled out of African producing countries.
"The findings of this study are extremely concerning. They show that the UAE remains a hub for smuggled and conflict gold," said Marc Ummel, head of SwissAid's natural resources programme and one of the report's authors.
The organisation examined 52 reports assessing how UAE-based gold refineries and companies complied with the new regulations between 2023 and 2025. Only two were found to have fully met the requirements, according to the study.
African gold and conflict zones
Of the illicit gold delivered to the UAE in 2024, 453 tonnes were smuggled from African gold-producing countries, the report said.
Around 413 tonnes entered the UAE directly, while another 40 tonnes were transported through neighbouring countries before reaching the Gulf state.
The study also identified 174.5 tonnes of what it described as "conflict gold" originating from Russia, Yemen and Sudan. This included 108.9 tonnes from Russia, 6.6 tonnes from Yemen and 59 tonnes from Sudan, with some shipments passing through Armenia and countries neighbouring Sudan.
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Some Sudanese gold was already included in the figures for African smuggled gold, explaining why the combined total was 591 tonnes rather than the direct sum of the two categories.
SwissAid described the UAE as the largest destination for gold linked to armed conflicts in Africa and one of the most important markets for gold from countries facing international sanctions.
Sudan, which has been engulfed in war since April 2023, is a prominent example of how gold has become a source of financing for rival armed factions and private traders.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been accompanied by allegations that gold revenues are helping sustain the fighting.
The UAE has faced accusations of providing support to the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that its involvement in Sudan is focused on humanitarian assistance.
A report by Middle East Eye also linked members of Hemedti's family to gold mining operations in Sudan's Darfur region and the Al-Junaid company.
The company has been accused of accumulating significant wealth from gold extracted in areas controlled by the RSF and subsequently transported to Dubai.
The allegations have drawn further attention to the role of international gold markets in financing armed groups and sustaining conflicts in resource-rich countries.
SwissAid's findings raise questions about the effectiveness of the UAE's regulatory reforms and the ability of international supply-chain monitoring systems to prevent illicit gold from entering the global market.
The report underscores the challenges facing gold-producing African countries, where weak oversight, cross-border smuggling and armed conflicts continue to complicate efforts to ensure that mineral wealth benefits local communities rather than illicit trading networks.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
