Guardian Investigation Links UAE to Sudan War Backdrop, Luxury Property Acquisitions by RSF‑Linked Figures

Guardian Investigation Links UAE to Sudan War Backdrop, Luxury Property Acquisitions by RSF‑Linked Figures
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An investigative report by The Guardian reveals that the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a key backdrop in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, with allegations that the country has provided a safe haven for wealth tied to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused of serious atrocities. 

The investigation, drawing on research by the U.S. group The Sentry, found that leadership figures and associates of the RSF — including family members of its commander Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo — have acquired more than £17.7 million (about $22 million) worth of luxury real estate in Dubai through UAE‑registered companies. Many of these properties are located in upscale areas near Dubai landmarks, and the acquisitions are believed to be funded largely from gold smuggled out of Sudan amid the conflict. 

The RSF, which the United Nations has described as having “hallmarks of genocide” in parts of its assaults, has been engaged in a brutal war with the Sudanese Armed Forces since 2023 that has generated the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with tens of millions in need of aid. 

Dubai’s role as a global financial and real estate hub has made it a destination for converting disputed wealth into assets, according to the report, which describes the emirate as offering a “safe haven” for RSF‑linked funds and individuals. While the UAE has generally denied direct military involvement, international scrutiny persists over its broader ties to Sudanese armed actors and the flow of conflict‑related money through its economy.