Epstein tried to build web of powerful ties across Middle East, documents show

DUBAI - The departure of the chief executive of Dubai port giant DP World is the biggest fallout in the Middle East from US Department of Justice documents, which show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein tried to build a powerful network of political figures and business leaders across the region.

DP World announced on Feb 13 that

Mr Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem had resigned as chief executive and chair

. The decision to act was taken after Mr Ahmed’s name appeared in the Epstein files, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, and as his relationship with the late convicted sex offender faced increasing scrutiny.

In their correspondence, Mr Ahmed discussed sexual relationships with women with whom Epstein helped him connect. In an e-mail dated Nov 9, 2007, Mr Ahmed told Epstein he had met one such woman in New York, whom he does not name and with whom he said he did not have sex.

“Yes after several attempts for several months we managed to meet in NY,” he wrote.

Dubai’s ruler on Feb 13 also issued a decree appointing a new chairman for Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, one of several roles Mr Ahmed held.

Reuters was able to independently review only some of the Epstein files relating to Mr Ahmed and was unable to ascertain what specifically led to his departure from DP World, although the sources said, without providing further details, that it was related to the files.

Mr Ahmed did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on his departure. DP World declined to comment.

Cooking together

In one e-mail exchange, Epstein described Mr Ahmed as funny, trustworthy and a foodie. Epstein went on to say that Mr Ahmed, a Muslim, does not drink and prays five times a day.

An undated photograph that appears in an e-mail and is publicly available shows Epstein cooking with Mr Ahmed and the two of them looking relaxed together. The full name of the person it was sent to by Epstein is not provided.

Mr Ahmed has not publicly commented on Epstein’s description or the e-mails about his relationship with him.

Being named in the file is not evidence of criminal activity. But after members of the US Congress said Mr Ahmed’s name appeared in files released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), he faced renewed questions from some of DP World’s financial backers over his past interactions.

Mr Ahmed did not respond publicly to those concerns.

The British development finance agency, British International Investment (BII), and Canada’s second-largest pension fund said last week they would suspend all new investment with DP World over Mr Ahmed’s alleged ties to Epstein.

“We are shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein files regarding Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem,” said a spokesman for BII, without saying which allegations he was referring to.

“In 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.”

Canadian pension fund La Caisse said it was “pausing additional capital deployment alongside the company” until DP World clarified the situation and took “the necessary actions”.

In a statement after Feb 13’s leadership changes at DP World, BII welcomed DP World’s decision and said it looked forward to continuing “our partnership to advance the development of key African trading ports”.

La Caisse said “the company took the appropriate measures” and that it would “move quickly to work with DP World’s new leadership to continue our partnership on port projects around the world”.

Mr Ahmed did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters to comment on the actions taken by BII and La Caisse. DP World declined comment.

Network of contacts

The large cache of documents released by the DOJ, including text messages and e-mails, also shows the Middle East was no exception to Epstein’s efforts to use his wealth to build relationships with prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business around the world.

Reuters was unable to ascertain how successful Epstein was in seeking to influence his contacts in the Middle East, and whether his advice was heeded.

The DOJ documents reviewed by Reuters show Epstein tried to advise Qatari business leaders and political figures during the 2017-21 blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt over accusations that Doha failed to curb ties with Iran and supported terrorism, which Qatar denied.

In exchanges with a Qatari businessman and ruling family member, Sheikh Jabor Yousuf Jassim Al Thani, Epstein urged Qatar to “stop kicking and arguing... let the heat come down a bit”. He said “the current Qatar team is very weak” and “FM (foreign minister) is not experienced and it shows”.

Qatar’s foreign minister at the time was Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who now serves as both foreign minister and prime minister. 

Sheikh Mohammed has not commented publicly on Epstein’s portrayal of him. Asked about the exchange, Qatar’s International Media Office, which handles media requests for the prime minister, declined to comment.

There was no response to a Reuters request for comment e-mailed to three companies in Qatar that Sheikh Jabor is listed as chairman of, or to a text message sent to an individual who, according to the files released by the DOJ, works in Sheikh Jabor’s office.

Epstein urged Doha to forge links with Israel to stay in the good graces of Mr Donald Trump, who was then in his first term as US president. He suggested the Gulf state either move towards recognising Israel or pledge US$1 billion (S$1.26 billion) to a fund for terrorism victims.

Ultimately, Qatar stuck to its independent course. In 2021, the blockading countries restored ties with Doha, and ties between the Trump administration and Qatar are now strong.

Discussion of Saudi Aramco IPO

Epstein discussed Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering in dozens of e-mail exchanges.

In one exchange dated Sept 10, 2016, with a person named as Aziza Alahmadi, and with former Norwegian diplomat Terje Roed-Larson copied in, Epstein warned that Aramco going public could expose Saudi Arabia to lawsuits and asset seizures.

Saudi Aramco declined to comment on these e-mails.

Ms Alahmadi could not be reached for comment and Reuters was unable to establish her role, if any, in Epstein’s activities.

In an e-mail dated Oct 16, 2017, and also sent to Ms Alahmadi, Epstein suggested selling China an option to buy a US$100 billion stake in Aramco, rather than pursuing a traditional initial public offering, saying it would provide liquidity while limiting exposure to public markets.

Saudi Aramco declined to comment to Reuters on the e-mails. Mr Roed-Larsen did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by e-mail via his lawyer.

Epstein’s reach also extended to Egypt, the documents released by the DOJ show.

Some e-mails show a request from a family member of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak – the wife of his son Gamal Mubarak – that was passed on to Epstein asking for help in 2011, following the former leader’s ouster and subsequent legal troubles.

They did not say what kind of assistance was sought and Reuters was unable to establish whether Epstein had tried to intercede on the family’s behalf.

Reuters e-mailed a request for comment to one lawyer and sent a text message to another, both of whom represented Gamal Mubarak. There was no immediate response. REUTERS