UAE Halts Sudanese Crude Oil Shipments Over Diplomatic Dispute, Impacting Fujairah and South Sudan’s Exports
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly blocked several Sudanese crude oil shipments, escalating a growing diplomatic rift between Abu Dhabi and Khartoum and disrupting a key source of revenue for Sudan’s military-led government.
According to a report by the Financial Times, the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure imposed a blockade on cargo movements to and from Port Sudan on August 7, effectively halting crude exports processed through the emirate of Fujairah — one of the world’s busiest marine fuel and oil trading hubs.
The move has severely disrupted the flow of South Sudanese crude oil, which relies on Port Sudan for exports and on Fujairah for refining and distribution.
A Strategic Hub Disrupted
Situated on the UAE’s eastern coast, Fujairah has become a critical node in the global energy supply chain. Data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone shows marine fuel sales rising to 7.6 million cubic meters (7.5 million metric tons) in 2024, a 1.9% year-on-year increase, underscoring the port’s growing importance in international bunkering and logistics.
Its facilities serve as a major refuelling and blending center for global shipping routes that connect Africa’s Red Sea ports with Asia’s industrial hubs.
The UAE’s decision to halt cargo movements from Sudan has therefore rippled far beyond the Horn of Africa, disrupting intricate regional trade flows and exposing how geopolitical disputes can destabilize global energy networks.
Root of the Diplomatic Breakdown
The blockade follows Sudan’s decision in May 2025 to sever diplomatic relations with the UAE. Khartoum accuses Abu Dhabi of arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a powerful paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti — which has been waging a two-year war against Sudan’s army under Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The conflict has claimed an estimated 150,000 lives, devastated Sudan’s economy, and displaced millions.
The UAE has firmly denied the allegations, asserting that it does not support either faction in Sudan’s civil war and that its recent measures are motivated by national security and logistical considerations.
Economic Fallout in Sudan and South Sudan
The blockade has had significant economic repercussions across the region, particularly for South Sudan, a landlocked nation that exports about 149,000 barrels of crude oil per day through Port Sudan — its main source of government revenue.
Before the blockade, much of this oil was shipped to Vitol’s refinery in Fujairah, where it was processed into low-sulphur bunker fuel for global shipping fleets.
Since July 30, however, no South Sudanese cargoes have arrived in the UAE, forcing Vitol’s facility — which processes around 100,000 barrels per day — to seek alternative, and more costly, crude sources.
Data from Kpler, cited by the Financial Times, indicates that some of this displaced crude has been redirected to Malaysia, where Vitol operates another refinery.
The rerouting of shipments underscores how Sudan’s political crisis and the UAE’s trade restrictions are reconfiguring regional oil logistics, amplifying economic uncertainty across the Horn of Africa and the Gulf.
Geopolitical Implications
Analysts say the UAE’s decision to block Sudanese shipments highlights its growing assertiveness in regional geopolitics, particularly across the Red Sea and Sahel regions, where it faces accusations of deep political interference.
For Sudan, the loss of access to UAE markets compounds a worsening economic crisis — marked by hyperinflation, a collapsing currency, and decimated export infrastructure.
For the UAE, however, the move signals a strategic recalibration, reflecting its willingness to leverage economic tools to protect national interests, even at the cost of long-standing partnerships in Africa.
