UAE says companies sanctioned by US over Sudan war not operating in the Emirates

Plumes of smoke rise during past clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army in Khartoum. (Photo: File/REUTERS)

By Amina Wako
Tuesday, April 8, 2025

The UAE says it is cooperating with Washington and conducting its own probe into the entities and individuals involved.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched investigations into seven companies allegedly linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following sanctions imposed by the United States, the Ministry of Justice announced Friday.

In an official statement, the UAE clarified that none of the companies named by the U.S. Treasury Department hold valid commercial licenses nor are they currently operating in the Emirates. The UAE says it is cooperating with Washington and conducting its own probe into the entities and individuals involved.

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“Upon notice of the sanctions designations, the UAE initiated its own investigation into the entities and related individuals, seeking additional information from US authorities to support these investigations,” the ministry said via the state news agency WAM.

The U.S. sanctions, announced in January under Executive Order 14098, target RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as “Hemedti”, one other individual, and seven UAE-based companies accused of financing or supporting the paramilitary group. The executive order, issued by President Joe Biden in May 2023, declared the Sudan conflict a threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy.

The UAE's Ministry of Justice emphasised its commitment to international law and overseeing financial activities. “The ministry confirms that none of these seven companies hold a valid commercial licence in the UAE, and none are currently conducting business in the country,” the statement said.

The UAE added that it is working closely with international partners to uncover further information. “Relevant UAE authorities continue to monitor any potential suspicious activity in accordance with applicable UAE laws,” the ministry noted.

The companies named in the U.S. sanctions include Capital Tap Holding—an entity reportedly managing over 50 companies across 10 countries—owned by Sudanese national Abu Dhar Abdel Nabi Habiballah. The U.S. Treasury Department designated Habiballah as a senior board member of the company, thereby subjecting his property and interests to sanctions.

Other sanctioned entities include:

Capital Tap General Trading

Al-Zumurrud wa Al-Yaqut for Gold and Jewellery

Creative Python

Al-Jil Al-Qadem (Next Generation)

Advanced Horizon Solutions

Capital Tap Management

The RSF has been a central actor in Sudan’s brutal civil conflict, which erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces. According to the United Nations, both sides in the conflict may have committed war crimes. Estimates suggest that the war has killed over 150,000 people and displaced well over 12 million Sudanese.