Some settled on the western coast, and some found water and grass resources, while others ventured into the desert, seeking refuge in the desert for fear of the sword of the Banu Hilal. The Arab Islamic settlement, with its southward expansion into Central Sudan, known as the Kingdom of Alwa, opened the door for Islam and Arab culture to penetrate Central Sudan and even the borders of Abyssinia, without the fall of the Christian Kingdom of Makuria in northern Sudan. From here, Arab migrations flowed into the Nile Valley Sudan throughout the Middle Ages, and a large number of Arabs settled in these areas. Then came the Arab campaigns directed by the governors of Egypt to the lands of the Beja, which provided an opportunity for the Arabs to become acquainted with the characteristics of the environment. This led some of those who participated in these campaigns to remain in the Alaqi region after they had seen the Nubian mines and the results of working in them. The fame of the Alaqi Valley for gold and emeralds was a reason for attracting a group from Rabia and Juhaynah in the year 238 AH - 837 AD.

Then came the political and economic pressure on the Arabs in Egypt following the establishment of the Abbasid state by appointing Turkish governors, and then the exclusion of Arabs from the Diwan al-Jund and the قطع العطاء (cutting off of stipends) from them. This pressure led to the migration of many Arab groups to the south. The opportunity arose for them when Ahmad ibn Tulun announced the preparation of a campaign to the lands of the Beja, in which many Arabs participated, most of them from Rabia and Juhaynah. It seems that the objective of this campaign was to discover new areas for gold mines in the lands of the Beja and to search for new places and settlements for those Arabs who wished to establish Arab communities in Lower Nubia (the Kingdom of Makuria). The relationship between the Islamic states in Egypt and the land of Nubia remained largely characterized by a tributary relationship. Thus, from the perspective of the Islamic states in Egypt, Nubia became a large market or an Islamic sphere of influence. The relationship was characterized by peace and tribute, and the Nubian kingdoms worked to implement this agreement and supply Egypt with what it needed.