Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem has resigned as chairman and chief executive of DP World, the Dubai-based ports and logistics giant that owns P&O Ferries, following revelations about his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The company announced his immediate departure on Friday, amid pressure from investors and partners after the publication of emails detailing his communications with Epstein.
Documents released by the US Department of Justice showed that Sulayem emailed Epstein in 2015, describing a sexual encounter with a young woman. US Congressman Thomas Massie, who reviewed unredacted Epstein files, said the justice department appeared to confirm that Sulayem was also the recipient of an email from Epstein referencing a torture video. The Dubai government did not mention Sulayem in its statement but named Essa Kazim as the new chairman and Yuvraj Narayan as chief executive.
The scandal had prompted two of DP World's largest international partners, Canada's La Caisse pension fund and British International Investment (BII), to halt future deals with the group this week. However, following Sulayem's resignation, BII announced it would resume investment projects, expressing support for DP World's decision and a desire to continue developing African trading ports.
Sulayem, brother of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had transformed DP World from a local port operator into a global logistics powerhouse, owning assets including six ports in Canada, the London Gateway container port, and P&O Ferries. DP World faced criticism in 2022 when P&O Ferries fired 800 staff and replaced them with cheaper agency workers, and in 2024 a diplomatic row erupted over the company's attendance at the UK government's investment summit.
The resignation comes amid wider fallout from the Epstein case, with Goldman Sachs lawyer Kathy Ruemmler also stepping down on Thursday after emails revealed her close relationship with Epstein. Sulayem's departure highlights the extensive network of Epstein's connections in the Middle East and beyond.
