The head of the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based ports giant DP World resigned Friday, the company said, amid mounting scrutiny of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, a notable business figure in the Middle East, was named this week in a trove of files related to Epstein that was released by the Justice Department.

Epstein Files Spark Fallout

In a statement, DP World announced the appointment of a new group chair and a new CEO, positions that were held by bin Sulayem. He was widely credited with transforming DP World, which is owned by the government of Dubai, from a regional ports and terminals operator into a global logistics powerhouse.

Bin Sulayem could not be reached for comment. DP World did not immediately respond to questions about the resignation.

Correspondence between Epstein and bin Sulayem surfaced last year in a set of documents showing the disgraced financier’s far-reaching network of influential figures across politics, finance and academia.

Documents released in late January offered further insight into their relationship, including apparent attempts by the two men to arrange business opportunities for each other and how they exchanged messages about women.

A Relationship Detailed in Emails

In a 2009 email, Epstein wrote to bin Sulayem, “where are you? are you ok , I loved the torture video.” It was unclear which video he referred to.

When the documents were first released, the UAE executive’s name was redacted, but he was identified Wednesday during a House hearing related to the Epstein files.

The files also indicate that the two men maintained a close association for years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction on charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor.

“All I know for sure,” Epstein wrote in an email in 2013, “is that you are one of my most trusted friends.”

Bin Sulayem wrote back thanking Epstein and made reference to “a fresh 100% female Russian at my yacht.”

Epstein died in a federal prison in 2019 while in custody on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

On Friday, DP World said it had appointed Essa Kazim as chair of its board of directors and Yuvraj Narayan as CEO.

Architect of Dubai’s Global Expansion

Bin Sulayem has long been one of the key associates of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is the ruler of Dubai and the prime minister of the UAE.

He helped to develop Dubai into a key logistics and trade hub, centered on the Jebel Ali Free Zone business park, and that included acquisitions around the world. A key deal was finalized in 2006: the multibillion-dollar purchase of the P&O Group, a British shipping line with operations at around 100 ports globally. He also helped establish Nakheel, a property development firm, which built Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island in Dubai.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Abdi Latif Dahir
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