Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Sudan · North Africa
The Ja'alin are an Arabic-speaking people of the Nile valley in northern Sudan, between the Atbara confluence and Khartoum, a stretch of river that was once the heart of the kingdom of Kush and its capital Meroe. Fitted with our global model, the Ja'alin average is 42.0% Nilotic East African, with the Dinka as stand-in, and 39.8% Natufian, with 8.9% Levantine Neolithic, 6.7% Iranian Neolithic and 2.6% Caucasus hunter-gatherer. Compared with the Nubians downstream (30.7% Natufian, 45.3% Nilotic), the Ja'alin have a somewhat larger Near Eastern-related share, yet their closest modern average is a Nubian one, the Nobiin-speaking Mahas (0.0129), ahead of the Beja, Shaigia Arabs and other Nubians. The closest ancient groups are close too: Christian-era Nubians from Kulubnarti in northern Sudan, from about 500 to 1000 AD (0.0198 and 0.0202), which points to deep roots along the Middle Nile alongside later contacts with Arabia.
- Largest ancient components in our model: Nilotic East African 42.0%, Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant) 39.8%, Levantine Neolithic farmers 8.9%
- Closest modern population in our data: Nubian (Nobiin Mahas), distance 0.0129
- Closest ancient group in our data: Sudan Nubia Early Medieval Christian Era Kulubnarti R, distance 0.0198
Where does Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) individuals sampled in Sudan, listed in the G25 sheet as "Sudanese_Arab_Ja'alin" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average, 42.0%, goes to Nilotic East African, ahead of Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant) (39.8%) and Levantine Neolithic farmers (8.9%). The Nilotic East African component reflects ancestry found in East African populations. The Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant) share (39.8%) reflects the early farmers of the Levant and the Natufian foragers who came before them.
Smaller traces of Caucasus hunter-gatherers (under 5%) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.026): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Closest modern populations to Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin)
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average is Nubian (Nobiin Mahas), at a distance of 0.013 (very close). Next come Beja (Hadendowa) at 0.027 and Sudanese Arab (Shaigia) at 0.027. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Nubian (Nobiin Mahas) (0.013), Beja (Hadendowa) (0.027) and Nubian (0.027). By the tenth closest (Afar (Ethiopia)) the distance grows to 0.039, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nubian (Nobiin Mahas) | 0.0129 | Very close |
| 2 | Beja (Hadendowa) | 0.0266 | Close |
| 3 | Sudanese Arab (Shaigia) | 0.0266 | Close |
| 4 | Nubian | 0.0270 | Close |
| 5 | Sudanese Arab (Kababish) | 0.0294 | Close |
| 6 | Nubian (Nobiin Halfawi) | 0.0337 | Close |
| 7 | Tigrayan | 0.0357 | Close |
| 8 | Amhara (other sample set) | 0.0372 | Close |
| 9 | Eritrean (Tigrinya) | 0.0385 | Close |
| 10 | Afar (Ethiopia) | 0.0386 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin)
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin), Sudan Nubia Early Medieval Christian Era Kulubnarti R (Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD) comes first, at 0.020, with Sudan Nubia Early Medieval Christian Era Kulubnarti S next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sudan Nubia Early Medieval Christian Era Kulubnarti R | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0198 |
| 2 | Sudan Nubia Early Medieval Christian Era Kulubnarti S | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0202 |
| 3 | Kenya Early Pastoral N | Neolithic | 0.0664 |
| 4 | Kenya Pastoral N Elmenteitan | Neolithic | 0.0969 |
| 5 | Tanzania Pastoral N | Neolithic | 0.0988 |
| 6 | Kenya Pastoral N Hyrax Hill 2300BP | c. 350 BC | 0.0998 |
| 7 | Kenya Pastoral N | Neolithic | 0.1072 |
| 8 | Tanzania Luxmanda 3000BP | c. 1050 BC | 0.1093 |
| 9 | Kenya Pastoral N Lukenya Hill 3500BP | c. 1550 BC | 0.1196 |
| 10 | Kenya Pastoral N Molo Cave 1500BP | c. 450 AD | 0.1391 |
Ancient DNA from Sudan
Our ancient DNA database holds 108 individuals excavated in present-day Sudan, dated from about 2,076 BC to 1175 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are E1b (17), G2a (3) and J2a (3), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are H2 (22), L2 (22) and U5 (13). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Sudan
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 108 from Sudan.
Compare yourself with Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin)
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
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About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin). Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
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More populations from North Africa
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin)?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average is about 42.0% Nilotic East African, 39.8% Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant) and 8.9% Levantine Neolithic farmers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin)?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Sudanese Arab (Shaigia)), the closest modern populations to the Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average are Nubian (Nobiin Mahas), Beja (Hadendowa) and Nubian. The closest ancient matches are Sudan Nubia Early Medieval Christian Era Kulubnarti R, Sudan Nubia Early Medieval Christian Era Kulubnarti S and Kenya Early Pastoral N.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin)?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) ancestry?
None of our regional reports is built for Sudanese Arab (Ja'alin) ancestry, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.