Sudan pound hits record lows as gold prices fluctuate

November 10, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese pound fell to a record low on the parallel market on Tuesday, trading between 10,400 and 10,450 per U.S. dollar as foreign currency shortages worsened, currency traders said.

The pound’s prolonged slide has driven sharp price increases for staple foods, fuel, and transport across the country, further compounding economic hardship caused by the ongoing war.

Traders told Sudan Tribune  the UAE dirham changed hands at 2,870 pounds, the Saudi riyal traded between 2,725 and 2,750 pounds, and the Egyptian pound stood at 196 pounds on Tuesday.

Dealers attributed the pressure on the currency to surging demand from importers and individuals alongside a sharp drop in foreign exchange liquidity.

Domestic gold markets also saw wide intraday swings, driven by the volatile exchange rate and fluctuations on international bullion markets.

The price of raw gold reached an intraday high above 1.17 million Sudanese pounds per gram before retreating to about 1.16 million pounds, traders said.

Prices varied sharply across regional mining hubs in River Nile State, hitting 1.17 million pounds per gram in Dar Mali and Abu Hamad, while sinking to 960,000 pounds in Umm Fakroun.

Traders said rapid shifts between the local exchange rate and global gold prices triggered speculative buying and selling among artisanal miners and bullion dealers seeking to hedge against currency depreciation.