Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, who held the position of chairman and CEO of DP World, a company that played a key role in global trade, has been removed from his position following allegations of his friendship with Epstein. The Dubai government media office announced on Friday the appointment of a new chairman of the board and CEO of DP World, but bin Sulayem's name was not mentioned in the official statement.
In recent materials released by the Department of Justice, bin Sulayem was mentioned among six other individuals. However, his name is not direct evidence of wrongdoing, and he has not faced criminal prosecution in connection with the Epstein case.
In correspondence, Epstein described bin Sulayem as "cheerful," "educated," and "a master of his craft," and referred to him as "the best and truest friend."
The correspondence between them indicates a long-standing friendship in which both business matters and personal topics were discussed, including candid messages and materials. This correspondence has drawn the attention of the U.S. Congress, including mentions of torture videos.
Communication between Epstein and bin Sulayem continued even after Epstein was released in 2009 after pleading guilty to child prostitution. He died in 2019 while awaiting trial on new sexual crime charges.
Bin Sulayem, who frequently appeared in public with the ruler of Dubai, also met with high-ranking officials, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
He also participated in major international events, such as the World Economic Forum in Davos and an awards ceremony in Dubai.
Following the release of the documents, several investment firms reportedly suspended their cooperation with DP World; however, the new management of the company assures that it is taking necessary measures to restore partnerships.
The correspondence between bin Sulayem and Epstein is also linked to attempts to establish contacts between the UAE and Israel, which began long before the normalization of relations in 2020.
In his messages, Epstein praised bin Sulayem for his business connections and offered him meetings with high-ranking Israeli officials.
The letters also mention notable meetings with world leaders and discussions of business proposals, including funding projects in London.
The relationship between bin Sulayem and Epstein also involves discussions related to the distribution of pornography and other explicit topics, which raises public outrage and interest in further investigation.
While bin Sulayem's fate remains uncertain, his name is becoming increasingly known in international circles, and this case continues to raise serious questions about his reputation and future business relationships.
