Press Release / / 02.24.26

New Investigation Links Sudan’s RSF Leader to Property Holdings in the UAE

RSF leader’s close links to property portfolio stands in stark contrast to the homelessness the war has inflicted on millions in Sudan

February 24, 2026 (London and Washington, D.C.) – A new report by The Sentry reveals that the leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Hamdan Dagalo, is closely linked to a property portfolio worth up to $1.7 million in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The RSF has been at war with the Sudanese Armed Forces since 2023, a conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people and displaced 12 million civilians, roughly a quarter of Sudan’s population. The United States sanctioned Hemedti in January 2025 and has accused the RSF of committing genocide in Western Sudan’s Darfur region.

Nick Donovan, Investigator at The Sentry, said: “This investigation is the third report by The Sentry documenting financial and operational links between Hemedti’s family, the RSF, and the UAE. While the UAE denies supporting the RSF, multiple investigations have revealed weapons transfers, mercenary support, and gold smuggling linking the Emirates and the militia.”

According to The Sentry’s report, in March 2020, Hemedti purchased three apartments in Dubai’s eastern suburbs near the UAE’s Al Minhad military airbase. The properties were initially bought in his own name and sold in July 2022 to Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services, a company registered in the UAE.

Although Prodigious is not included on the U.S. sanctions list, its owner has been sanctioned by the United States. Prodigious is currently owned by Abo Zer Abdelnabi Habiballa Ahmmed, also known as Abozer Habib, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2025 for owning the Capital Tap group, accused of financing and equipping the RSF. Former owners and directors of Prodigious include Emirati businessman Naser Helal Abdulla Helal Alhammadi and Sudanese national Islam Badreldin Mohamed Abdalla, both of whom previously held interests in RSF-linked companies. None of Prodigious’ owners or directors responded to requests for comment.

The Sentry estimates the three apartments are worth just under $1 million. Prodigious also owns a Dubai commercial property valued at approximately $670,000. In total the property portfolio generated at least $80,000 per year in rental income between 2023 and 2025.

The properties were identified using leaked Dubai property records obtained by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) and verified with support from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Justyna Gudzowska, Executive Director of The Sentry, said: “Dubai’s real estate market has a reputation for being a safe haven for dirty money. Even though more suspicious transactions are being reported, real crackdowns are rare. As a result, alleged criminals, corrupt foreign elites, and even sanctioned individuals are still able to own property in the city with little consequence.”

Call for Information and Recommendations

The Sentry believes Hemedti and his family may own properties in the UAE through front companies. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact The Sentry securely at: https://thesentry.org/shareinfo/

The Sentry recommends:

  • Sanctions: US authorities should add Prodigious, currently blocked by operation of the 50% rule, to the Specially Designated Nationals & Blocked Persons list for clarity and maximum effectiveness. Authorities in the EU, UK, and other jurisdictions should investigate and, if appropriate, sanction Prodigious and its sole owner Abo Zer Abdelnabi Habiballa Ahmmed.
  • Enhanced due diligence: In all jurisdictions, and especially in the UAE, financial institutions, real estate professionals, and lawyers should conduct enhanced due diligence on customers and transactions potentially involving members of Hemedti’s family and Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services.
  • Investigating real estate transactions in the UAE: Law enforcement agencies should investigate all properties bought by Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services, Hemedti’s family, and other related PEPs to verify the source of funds.
  • Increased FATF evaluations of real estate: Financial Action Task Force (FATF) members should focus on real estate during the upcoming 2026 mutual evaluation of the UAE’s progress on enforcement of money laundering and terrorist financing laws. If further progress in this area is not observed, then FATF should place the UAE back on the grey list.

For media inquiries, please contact: Kria Sakakeeny, Director of Communications, [email protected]

Notes to the Editor

Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services is already blocked in the US under the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s 50% rule, as the US has previously sanctioned the company’s sole owner, Abo Zer Abdelnabi Habiballa Ahmmed. However, Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services is not specifically identified as a blocked entity by the US Treasury, unlike other companies owned by Abo Zer Abdelnabi Habiballa Ahmmed.

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About The Sentry: The Sentry is an investigative and policy organization that seeks to disable multinational predatory networks that benefit from violent conflict, repression, and kleptocracy. Our investigations follow the money as it is laundered from war zones to financial centers around the world. We provide evidence and strategies for governments, banks, and law enforcement to hold the perpetrators and enablers of violence and corruption to account. These efforts provide new leverage for human rights, peace, and anti-corruption efforts. Learn more at: https://TheSentry.org