Sudan Moves To Formalize Gulf Remittances Through Digital Payments

Jeddah, August 30, 2026 - Sudan is finalizing an electronic payment framework linked to mobile banking applications in Saudi Arabia, aiming to draw diaspora remittances into official channels and strengthen state revenue collection.

State Minister of Finance Mohamed Nour Abdel Daim said the Ministry of Finance is coordinating with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Telecommunications to deploy cross-border digital payment infrastructure for Sudanese residents in the Gulf kingdom.

The initiative comes as Sudan seeks vital foreign exchange inflows after years of war disrupted trade, banking, telecommunications and monetary systems. Many Sudanese in Saudi Arabia have relied on informal transfer networks because of the gap between official and parallel exchange rates, global compliance barriers and recurring telecom outages at home.

The government is also offering incentives to encourage voluntary returns, including customs and tax exemptions for residential solar equipment and personal property, as well as waivers of domestic water utility fees. Abdel Daim also outlined a plan to shift overseas diplomatic mission spending toward sovereign capital asset holdings.

For investors, the framework signals an attempt to rebuild formal financial rails, improve foreign currency capture and restore confidence in state payment systems, though execution will depend on exchange-rate credibility, compliance access and telecom resilience.