Dubai port giant DP World replaces leader after his name appears in Epstein e-mails

DUBAI – Dubai’s DP World named a new chairman and chief executive, replacing its former leader Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem after the Epstein files revealed frequent correspondence between him and the convicted sex offender.

The statement on Feb 13 did not mention Mr Bin Sulayem. But his close ties to Jeffrey Epstein were revealed in documents recently released by the US Department of Justice, in which he is cited more than 9,400 times – making international headlines and sparking condemnation.

“DP World announced the appointment of His Excellency Essa Kazim as chairman of its board of directors and the appointment of Yuvraj Narayan as group chief executive officer,” the group said in a statement published by the Dubai Media Office.

DP World took down Mr Bin Sulayem’s biography from its website shortly after the statement was released.

Described by Epstein as one of his “most trusted friends”, Mr Bin Sulayem was group chairman and CEO of DP World, one of the largest port operators on the globe.

The move to replace him followed a Feb 11 decision by British International Investment (BII) – Britain’s development finance institution – to suspend investments in DP World in the light of the revelations.

“We are shocked by the facts emerging in the Epstein files regarding Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. In the light of the allegations, we will not be making any new investments with DP World until the required actions have been taken by the company,” a spokesperson said.

On Feb 13, a spokesperson added: “We welcome today’s decision by DP World and look forward to continuing our partnership.”

BII is an investor with DP World in four ports in Africa.

‘Right hand’

The documents revealed that Epstein and Mr Bin Sulayem maintained regular correspondence from 2009 to 2018, exchanging messages on intimate matters, meetings, introductions and business opportunities.

The mere mention of a person’s name in the Epstein files does not by itself imply any wrongdoing.

The wealthy Emirati businessman was presented at the time by Epstein as “the right hand” of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The correspondence suggests that he visited the US sex offender at his home several times, including on his private island.

Mr Bin Sulayem shared very intimate information with Epstein.

He also told Epstein details about his relationship with a student at a Dubai university, describing it as the “best sex I ever had amazing body” and also reported sexual massages he received during a trip to Tokyo.

Their correspondence shows that Mr Bin Sulayem travelled to Israel several years before the United Arab Emirates normalised ties with the country, and that Epstein put him in contact with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak.

US Representative Thomas Massie, who, along with Representative Ro Khanna, had access to unredacted versions of the files, posted on X a 2009 e-mail exchange between Epstein and a redacted sender discussing a “torture video”.

Mr Khanna then took to the House floor and read out the names of six men that he said had been redacted, including Mr Bin Sulayem’s.

Mr Massie on Feb 13 posted a tweet referencing Mr Bin Sulayem’s resignation and said: “DOJ redacted information necessary to identify who sent Epstein the ‘torture video e-mail.’ @RepRoKhanna and I first discovered his name and released it Monday. Today he resigns.”

Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting a minor. His extensive ties to the world’s rich and powerful, particularly after his release in 2009, have become politically explosive worldwide.

He died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for trafficking children, in what was ruled a suicide. AFP