DP World CEO and Chairman Sultan Bin Sulayem Steps Down After Name Surfaces In Epstein Files
After the uproar over the newly released documents in the Epstein Files, Dubai’s port giant DP World announced on Friday (Feb 13) that Essa Kazim has been appointed as chairman of its board of directors and Yuvraj Narayan as group chief executive officer following the removal of Sultan bin Sulayem over alleged involvement with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Members of the US Congress said DP World’s long-serving chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem’s name has appeared in the fresh documents. Sulayem is Dubai’s most influential businessman, who has led DP World for over four decades, through an expansion that turned it into one of the world’s largest logistics companies. The company said it handles around 10 per cent of global trade.
The DOJ described Sulayem as a “close personal friend” and called him one of his most trusted friends in other files. Sulayem has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing. A disclosure to Nasdaq Dubai, where DP World maintains listed bonds, said Sulayem had resigned “effective immediately.”
A statement issued on Friday by DP World did not name Sulayem but said it “affirmed that the new appointments support its strategy for sustainable growth and reinforce its role in strengthening global supply chains and supporting Dubai’s position as a leading hub for trade and logistics.”
As per the documents, the exchange between the two was mostly about business, with Sulayem often seeking Epstein’s advice on meetings, connections and investments.