Wad Madani is a city located in Central Sudan and serves as the capital of the Al Jazirah state. Situated on the west bank of the Blue Nile, it is positioned approximately 85 miles (136 km) southeast of the national capital, Khartoum. The city is connected to Khartoum by rail and functions as a primary hub for regional infrastructure, serving as the headquarters of the Irrigation Service.
The city is a major center for agriculture and commerce, specifically within a prominent cotton-growing region. It also serves as a center for local trade involving livestock, wheat, peanuts, and barley. Educationally, Wad Madani is home to both the University of Gezira, which is the second largest public university in Sudan, and the private Wad Medani Ahlia University.