Holding(s) in Company

Immediate Release 25(th) January 2010

                    GULFSANDS PETROLEUM PLC ("the Company")

                   Notification of Major Interests in Shares

The  Company  was  notified  on   22(nd) January 2010,  by  Schroders  plc  that
following  an in specie transfer of shares  on  21(st) January, 2010,  Schroders
Investment   Management  Limited  ("SIML") is  now  the  holder   of 25,901,311
shares  representing  21.54% of  the  Company's  issued   share capital and  has
voting   rights over  19,194,925 shares  representing 15.96% of the total issued
and voting share capital of the Company.

For more information please contact:


 Gulfsands Petroleum (London)                               [phone]

 Richard Malcolm, Chief Executive Officer
 Kenneth Judge, Director of Corporate Development &         [phone]
 Communications



 Buchanan Communications Limited (London)                   [phone]

 Bobby Morse
 Ben Romney



 RBC Capital Markets (London)                               [phone]

 Josh Critchley
 Matthew Coakes
 Brett Jacobs
 Martin Eales


ABOUT GULFSANDS:

Gulfsands is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Syria

Gulfsands owns a 50% working interest and is operator of Block 26 in North East
Syria.  The Khurbet East oil field was discovered in June 2007 and commenced
commercial production within 13 months of the discovery. This field is producing
at an average gross production rate of approximately 17,300 barrels of oil per
day through an early production facility. Block 26 covers approximately 8,250
square kilometres and encompasses existing fields which currently produce over
100,000 barrels of oil per day, and are operated mainly by the Syrian Petroleum
Company.  The current exploration license expires in August 2010 and is
extendable for a further two years.  Gulfsands' working interest 2P reserves in
Syria at 31 December 2008 were 35.2 mmbbls.

Iraq

Gulfsands signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2005 with the Ministry
of Oil in Iraq for the Maysan Gas Project in Southern Iraq, following completion
of a feasibility study on the project, and is negotiating details of a
definitive contract for this regionally important development.  The project will
gather, process and transmit natural gas that is currently a waste by-product of
oil production and as a result of the present practice of gas flaring,
contributes to significant environmental damage in the region. The Company is
actively engaged in discussions with respect to financing and potential equity
partners.  Gulfsands has no reserves in Iraq.

Gulf of Mexico, USA

The Company owns interests in 44 blocks comprising approximately 138,000 gross
acres offshore Texas and Louisiana, which include 30 producing oil and gas
fields with proved and probable working interest reserves at 31 December 2008 of
5.1 mmboe.

Certain statements included herein constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. These forward-looking
statements are based on certain assumptions made by Gulfsands and as such are
not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results could differ materially
from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to
factors such as general economic and market conditions, increased costs of
production or a decline in oil and gas prices. Gulfsands is under no obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

More information can be found on the Company's website www.gulfsands.com



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