Sudanese Pound Under Pressure as Dollar Nears SDG 3,000

Sudanese Pound Under Pressure as Dollar Nears SDG 3,000

The Sudanese pound showed renewed weakness on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, as official bank rates fluctuated amid mounting economic and political instability. Despite limited interventions by the Central Bank, foreign exchange rates continued to climb, reflecting growing pressure on Sudan’s fragile financial system.

According to the Faisal Islamic Bank’s daily bulletin, the U.S. dollar traded at an average of SDG 2,559.56, with buying and selling rates of SDG 2,550 and SDG 2,569.12 respectively. The National Bank of Sudan quoted slightly lower figures at SDG 2,500 for buying and SDG 2,518.75 for selling, showing modest stability compared to the surging parallel market, where rates reportedly approached SDG 3,000 per dollar.

Analysts attributed the temporary stability in banks to the central bank’s quiet interventions, keeping the official ceiling near SDG 2,600. However, they warned that the widening gap between official and market rates continues to erode confidence in the banking sector.

Euro and Sterling Extend Gains

The euro maintained its upward trajectory, reaching SDG 2,983.5 for buying and SDG 3,005.8 for selling at Faisal Bank, while the National Bank listed it at around SDG 2,900 and SDG 2,921.75 respectively. Economists say the euro’s rise reflects stronger performance in European markets and sustained weakness in the Sudanese economy, weighed down by declining production and remittances.

The British pound remained the highest-valued foreign currency, trading at SDG 3,187.5 for buying and SDG 3,211.4 for selling at Faisal Bank, compared to SDG 3,125 and SDG 3,148 at the National Bank. Analysts link the pound’s strength to the UK’s solid economic performance in the last quarter and the continued erosion of the Sudanese pound’s purchasing power.

Gulf Currencies Hold Steady

Both the Saudi riyal and the UAE dirham were stable, supported by their peg to the U.S. dollar. The riyal traded at SDG 680 for buying and SDG 685.1 for selling at Faisal Bank, while the National Bank quoted SDG 666.6 and SDG 671.6.
The dirham stood at SDG 694.8 for buying and SDG 700.03 for selling at Faisal Bank, slightly higher than SDG 680.7 and SDG 685.8 at the National Bank. Analysts say continued remittance inflows from Gulf countries remain a crucial source of hard currency for Sudan.

Kuwaiti, Bahraini, and Omani Dinars Edge Higher

Official data also showed modest gains for Gulf dinars. The Kuwaiti dinar climbed to SDG 7,650 for buying and SDG 7,707 for selling at Faisal Bank, while the National Bank listed it above SDG 7,800. The Bahraini dinar traded around SDG 6,757 at Faisal Bank and SDG 6,625 at the National Bank, while the Omani rial ranged between SDG 6,630 and SDG 6,679.

These increases, economists note, mirror the relative strength of Gulf economies and the resilience of their currencies compared to the volatile Sudanese pound.

Safe-Haven Currencies on the Rise

The Japanese yen and Swiss franc both edged upward. The yen was quoted at SDG 17.62 for buying and SDG 17.75 for selling at Faisal Bank, and SDG 16.96 and SDG 17.09 at the National Bank. The Swiss franc traded at SDG 2,575 and SDG 2,594 respectively at Faisal Bank, while some banks listed it above SDG 3,100. Analysts view both currencies as safe-haven indicators of investor anxiety amid Sudan’s ongoing financial instability.

Economic Outlook: Mounting Pressure on the Pound

Economic experts warn that the Sudanese pound remains under sustained downward pressure, driven by declining exports, shrinking reserves, and soaring import dependency. Without deep fiscal and monetary reforms, they predict further depreciation in the short term.

The growing divergence between official and black-market rates, they added, risks deepening public mistrust in the banking system and complicating efforts to stabilize foreign exchange markets in the coming months.