A Swissaid report says the UAE remained a major destination in 2024 for gold smuggled from conflict zones and sanctioned countries, despite rules intended to strengthen responsible sourcing and supply-chain checks.

About 453 tons of gold worth more than $56 billion came from African gold-producing countries, including Guinea, Mali and Sudan; nearly 29 tons originated in Sudan, and some African gold arrived via third countries.

The report says illicit gold from Sudan helps finance the war, including the Rapid Support Forces, while another 137.7 tons of gold worth nearly $17 billion came from Russia and Yemen.

Compliance and enforcement remain a concern: the report says many UAE refiners and traders do not follow the rules and enforcement is weak, while incomplete data for 2025 suggests the trend continued.