Committee publication · Correspondence · 20 January 2026
Letter from the Minister of State for Trade and the Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan relating to UK arms exports to the United Arab Emirates, 13 January 2026
From: Business and Trade Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls
Summary
Ministers of State for Trade and for the Middle East respond to parliamentary inquiry about UK arms exports to the UAE and alleged diversions to Sudan's conflict. They reject Guardian reporting as "highly misleading", confirm a longstanding Sudan arms embargo, detail that only three items of old equipment have been found in Sudan (none weapons or ammunition), and outline enforcement mechanisms including 697 approved and 64 refused military licences to the UAE since 2020.
Key findings
- Ministers reject media allegations about scale and nature of UK exports found in Sudan, stating reporting is "highly misleading" regarding export licence decision-making
- Only three items of old UK-made equipment identified in Sudan: a vehicle engine (exported ~2016), a mobile target practice unit, and a seatbelt fastener—no current licences for reported equipment for at least five years
- UK maintains longstanding arms embargo for all Sudan; between 2020-2024 approved 697 military licences to UAE but refused 64 applications, with diversion risk (Criterion 7) used for 37 refusals
- Sudan faces world's worst humanitarian crisis with 30 million needing aid; UK is third largest bilateral donor providing over £146 million annually and sanctioned four RSF commanders in December 2025
- Government conducts case-by-case assessment requiring signed end-user undertakings and reviews 2,000+ current and historical licences; HMRC leads enforcement with criminal sanctions for breaches
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Sir Chris Bryant MP, Hamish Falconer MP, Liam Byrne MP, Baroness Chapman, Richard Crowder, UK Foreign Secretary, The Guardian, United Arab Emirates
Notable line
“We are not aware of any evidence of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan in recent or previous reporting.”
Key Quotes
“Sudan is currently facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with over 30 million people in urgent need of aid, 25 million people facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, and 12 million people forced to flee their homes.”
“Recent reporting in the Guardian and other media points to information shared with the UNSC, the work of the Panel of Experts and allegations regarding the UAE's role. We took these allegations extremely seriously and conducted extensive investigations, including reviewing a substantial number of licenses.”
“On that basis we are clear that the reporting is highly misleading on the scale and nature of UK exports found in Sudan and we reject the allegations around our export licence decision-making.”
“We are not aware of any evidence of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan in recent or previous reporting.”
“All export licence applications are assessed for the risk of diversion and are kept under careful and continual review. Export licensing decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, using the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time.”
“The risk of diversion is complex and is the single biggest reason export licences are refused.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗