Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, is at the center of a complex web of financial dealings tied to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group recently implicated in grave human rights violations. An investigative report by The Sentry has shed light on Hemedti’s significant investments in Dubai, revealing a property portfolio worth approximately $1.7 million, which includes multiple apartments in the city’s eastern suburbs.

Unveiling Hemedti’s Dubai Real Estate Investments

In March 2020, Hemedti acquired three residential units near the al-Minhad military air base in Dubai. These acquisitions align with his prominent position within the RSF, which has faced allegations of genocide in North Darfur by a United Nations fact-finding mission. While initially registered in his name, these properties were transferred in July 2022 to Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services, a company based in the UAE. The ownership of Prodigious is solely attributed to Abo Zer Abdelnabi Habiballa Ahmmed, also known as Abozer Habib.

The financial entanglement doesn’t end there; in 2025, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Habib for his ties to the RSF and his involvement with the Capital Tap group—an entity accused of supplying the paramilitary faction with funding and military equipment. Furthermore, individuals who previously owned Prodigious, including Emirati businessman Naser Helal Abdulla Helal Alhammadi and Sudanese Islam Badreldine Mohamed Abdalla, had connections with Capital Tap, suggesting a pervasive network of interests intertwining with Hemedti’s operations.

The Dubious Nature of Prodigious

Despite reaching out for comments, neither Prodigious nor its owners responded to The Sentry’s inquiries. Official sources in Sudan have previously acknowledged Hemedti’s ownership of properties beyond just Dubai, indicating a broader, more complex international presence. A closer look reveals that the three Dubai apartments are valued at just under $1 million, alongside commercial properties held by Prodigious worth around $670,000. These properties have served as residences for expatriates in Dubai, who remain unaware of their landlords’ connections to ongoing conflicts in Sudan.

The leaked property records from Dubai, spanning 2020 and 2022, facilitated this investigation. Solidarities from organizations like the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) corroborated the claims about Prodigious’ activities. While the UAE claims to distance itself from the RSF, growing evidence showcases a significant relationship between the two, raising questions about the country’s true involvement.

The Dagalo Family Empire and its International Connections

The Dagalo family, including Hemedti and his siblings, has had established ties to the UAE long before the recent conflict escalated in 2023. Hemedti claimed Sudan provided a substantial number of fighters to aid a UAE-led coalition in Yemen, highlighting a strategic partnership stretching across borders. The family’s connection to gold exports from Sudan further compounds this narrative, as companies like Al-Junaid and other UAE entities facilitate the illicit trade of gold from RSF-controlled regions.

Notably, the flow of gold from Sudan to the UAE has seen a sharp rise, particularly via routes through Chad, South Sudan, and Kenya. In 2019, Hemedti asserted he deposited $1 billion in Sudan’s central bank, believed to stem largely from a diverse corporate empire encompassing gold mining, livestock, and various sectors. This industrial complex, once linked with reputable international firms, exposes the blurred lines between legitimate business and illicit operations, casting a shadow on Dubai’s burgeoning real estate sector.

In light of these revelations, the intertwining of business, violence, and international finance illustrates the broader implications of Hemedti’s actions not only for Sudan but also for global markets. As the situation continues to evolve, understanding the full extent of these financial networks will be crucial in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the potential geopolitical repercussions of such entrenched interests.