Saturday 14 / February / 2026
Dubai: A new chairman was announced for Dubai-based logistics firm DP World after the outgoing leader, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem's frequent correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein was revealed in the recently released files.
DP World is one of the world's largest logistics companies. It runs the Jebel Ali port in Dubai, where it has long been a pillar of the city's economy, and operates terminals in other ports around the world.
The emails referenced pornography, sexual massages and escorts, among other things.
A person's name being mentioned in the Epstein files does not necessarily imply any wrongdoing, however the nature of the correspondence has raised a number of questions.
"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.
The statement did not specifically name Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, but DP World took down bin Sulayem's website biography shortly after the statement was released.
The former chair is cited thousands of times in documents released by the US Justice Department (DOJ) and the files revealed frequent correspondence with the convicted sex offender.
On Wednesday, British government investment institution BII expressed shock at the stream of revelations and moved to suspend investments with DP World in light of the revelations.
However, on Friday, after DP World's change of leadership, a spokesperson said: "We welcome today's decision by DP World and look forward to continuing our partnership."
Canadian firm La Caisse also took the decision to suspend ties with DP World earlier this week but changed tack on Friday following bin Sulayem's replacement.
Two US lawmakers, meanwhile, have linked the Emirati business leader to an Epstein mail mentioning a torture video.
US lawmakers Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna had access to unredacted versions of the Epstein documents, and posted up a 2009 email exchange between Epstein and a redacted sender discussing a "torture video" on social media platform X.
Khanna later took to the House floor and read the names of six men whose names he said had been redacted, including bin Sulayem's.
Massie on Friday posted a tweet referencing bin Sulayem's resignation and said: "DOJ redacted information necessary to identify who sent Epstein the 'torture video email.' Ro Khanna and I first discovered his name and released it Monday. Today he resigns."
Epstein was found dead inside his prison cell while awaiting trial for trafficking children in what was ruled a suicide.
