Promote:
Invest in Sudan
A short guide for companies expanding into Sudan: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Sudan at a glance
PopulationEstimate
51.7 million
Population was 51,662,147 in 2025, from World Bank WDI.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sudan population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$60.2 billion
GDP was US$60.2 billion in 2025 in current dollars, from World Bank WDI.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sudan GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$1,165
GDP per person was US$1,165 in 2025 in current dollars, from World Bank WDI.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sudan GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
3.1%
Real GDP growth was 3.06 percent in 2025, from World Bank WDI.
Source: World Bank WDI, Sudan real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
28.5%
Consumer prices rose 28.5 percent over twelve months to September 2026, on the Central Bank of Sudan's published rate.
Source: Central Bank of Sudan, economic brief, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
The currency is the Sudanese pound.
Source: Central Bank of Sudan, economic brief, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is the National Investment Authority.
Source: National Investment Authority, home page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
The National Investment Authority runs an electronic single-window platform; in September 2026 it opened online filing of project needs statements.
Source: National Investment Authority, single window notice, September 2026 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 1, 2026
Article 18 of the 2021 Act sets a special list of sectors closed to foreign investors, fixed by the agency; the list itself was not found.
Source: Sudan gazette 1914, Investment Encouragement Act 2021 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of May 12, 2021
The 2021 Act gives the investment authority a markets and free zones unit (Article 6), but no official count or list of designated free zones was found.
Source: Sudan gazette 1914, Investment Encouragement Act 2021 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of May 12, 2021
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Sudan
- Choose the entity form: sole proprietorship, partnership, company or branch of a foreign company.National Investment AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Investment Authority, procedures guide, 2025 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Send the proposed names and the formation contract to the commercial registrar, and register the company.Ministry of JusticeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Investment Authority, procedures guide, 2025 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Apply to the investment authority for a license, with a feasibility study from an accredited consultancy and the registration documents.National Investment AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Investment Authority, procedures guide, 2025 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Foreign investors deposit at least US$250,000 by transfer from abroad before the license is issued.National Investment AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Sudan gazette 1914, Investment Encouragement Act 2021 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of May 12, 2021
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Register foreign capital with proof of transfer through the banking system, or with import certificates for equipment.National Investment AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Investment Authority, procedures guide, 2025 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Arrange residence for foreign investors and staff through the authority's immigration and foreign labor procedures.National Investment AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Investment Authority, procedures guide, 2025 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Use the electronic single-window platform for filings after the license, including the project needs statement.National Investment AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Investment Authority, single window notice, September 2026 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 1, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with NIA and Customs Forces. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment promotion authority
NIA
National Investment Authority
Licenses investment projects, runs an electronic single-window platform, and publishes an investor guide and a procedures guide.
Visit NIA (opens in a new tab)Source: National Investment Authority, single window notice, September 2026 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Justice ministry and company registrar
MoJ
Ministry of Justice
Its Commercial Registrations Department registers companies, business names, partnerships and commercial agents, with electronic registration services.
Visit MoJ (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Justice, commercial registrations page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs Forces
Sudan Customs Forces
Is named in the prime minister's October 2026 decisions as a body that implements the new duty and VAT exemptions.
Seaports authority
Ports Corporation
Sea Ports Corporation
Runs Port Sudan and the other seaports, and publishes ship movements, port tariffs and port statistics online.
Visit Ports Corporation (opens in a new tab)Source: Sea Ports Corporation, home page, October 2026 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
Inflation was 28.5 percent in September 2026, and exchange bureaus sold dollars at 6,065.32 pounds against 4,624.24 at commercial banks on September 30.
What to do: Confirm the rate and the settlement route with your bank before you price a contract.
Sources: Central Bank of Sudan, economic brief, September 2026 (opens in a new tab); Central Bank of Sudan, 2026 policies (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Conflict and travel advice
The United Kingdom's FCDO advises against all travel to Sudan because of the ongoing military conflict, and its embassy in Khartoum is closed.
What to do: Check insurance and staff safety rules before any visit, and arrange meetings by video where you can.
Sources: FCDO, Sudan travel advice, May 2026 (opens in a new tab); OFAC, Sudan and Darfur sanctions program page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
Article 18 of the 2021 Act sets a special list of activities closed to foreign investors; the list was not found in the sources opened.
What to do: Ask the National Investment Authority for the current special list before you commit capital.
Source: Sudan gazette 1914, Investment Encouragement Act 2021 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Foreign investor deposit
Article 22 requires a foreign investor to deposit at least US$250,000 by transfer from abroad before a license is issued.
What to do: Confirm the deposit amount and the bank route with the authority before you transfer funds.
Sources: Sudan gazette 1914, Investment Encouragement Act 2021 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab); National Investment Authority, procedures guide, 2025 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Sudan with other countriesSet Sudan beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Sudan project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Sudan is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.