Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem

In this Arabic name, the surname is bin Sulayem.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem
‏سلطان أحمد بن سليم
Bin Sulayem in 2025
Born
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem

1955 (age 70–71)
Dubai, Trucial States
Alma materTemple University
Years active1985–present
TitleFormer Chairman & CEO, DP World
Chairman, Hyperloop One
Board member ofSeven Tides
ChildrenAhmed Sultan Bin Sulayem
RelativesMohammed Ben Sulayem (brother)

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem (Arabic: ‏سلطان أحمد بن سليم, born 1955) is an Emirati businessman. He was the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of DP World until 13 February 2026, and the chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation until February 2026. He was named as a co-conspirator in the child sex trafficking ring led by Jeffrey Epstein in the public release of the Epstein files in February 2026, however, he has not been criminally charged.[1][2][3] He resigned from his executive positions due to his association with Epstein.[4][5]

Family and education

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was born into the Sulayem family, one of Dubai's business and political families active since the early 20th century. His father was a key advisor to Dubai's ruling Maktoum family.[6] He graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in economics.[7]

Business career

Bin Sulayem worked as a customs officer at Dubai's port after graduating from college in the late 1970s. He was appointed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to be chairman of the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) in 1985.[8][9] He oversaw its rapid expansion, with JAFZA growing from hosting 19 companies in the mid-1980s to roughly 7,500 as of 2020.[10][9]

Bin Sulayem was made DP World chairman in 2007 and was appointed group chairman and CEO in February 2016.[11] Following the acquisition of British port operator Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation for $6.9 billion, DP World became the world's third biggest port operator in 2010.[12][13]

Bin Sulayem led DP World's property development subsidiary Nakheel Properties until 2010, becoming a board member in 2020.[14][15] The company was behind the construction of Palm Islands, the man-made islands in Dubai.[14]

He helped establish and headed the DP World subsidiary private equity fund Istithmar World.[16]

Bin Sulayem has been non-executive chairman of Virgin Hyperloop since 2018.[17] He is a board member of the Dubai Executive Council and the UAE Federal Tax Authority,[7] as well as the Investment Corporation of Dubai (the emirate's sovereign wealth fund) until 2009.[18]

In February 2026, he ceased to be chairman and CEO of DP World.[19]

Personal life

Bin Sulayem owns hotels on Nakheel's Palm Islands, and a stake in a real estate brokerage company.[20] He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University in Dubai in 2008.[21]

His son, Ahmed Sultan bin Sulayem, is the chairman of the government-owned Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.[20]

Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

Bin Sulayem and Jeffrey Epstein were in contact as early as 2007,[22] and remained in contact long after Epstein had been convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor.[23] In emails with Epstein, Bin Sulayem shared his sexual experiences and appeared to send attachments of images with Epstein.[23] On 24 April 2009, Epstein sent him an email stating "where are you? are you ok I loved the torture video". On 9 February 2026, Representative Thomas Massie confirmed bin Sulayem was the recipient of that email.[24][25][26][27][28] According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), bin Sulayem's name appears in the documents more than 4,700 times.[29]

Documents released by the US Department of Justice show that Jeffrey Epstein acted as an intermediary to help bin Sulayem lobby the UK government in 2009 for support regarding the £1.8 billion London Gateway port project. Epstein reportedly shared the personal email address of Peter Mandelson—who was then the UK Business Secretary—with bin Sulayem and advised him on how to push through a deal. Emails indicate Epstein told Mandelson to "be nice to Sultan" in October 2009. The lobbying effort was aimed at securing government loan guarantees for the DP World deep-water port project on the Thames in Essex. The project went ahead, and DP World currently runs the London Gateway port.[30][31]

Epstein initiated contact between bin Sulayem and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak as early as 2012, years before the normalization of ties under the Abraham Accords.[32] In 2013, bin Sulayem sent an email to Epstein stating that he had been invited to lunch by Prince Andrew.[31]

From 2011 to 2014, bin Sulayem reportedly was scheduled to visit Epstein's townhouse.[33] Bin Sulayem had Epstein ask Peter Mandelson to join the board of one of his companies in 2014. In 2016, Great St. James was for sale. Epstein already owned Little St. James, but the owner of the larger island did not want to sell it to him, because he was a registered sex offender. To buy it in secret, Epstein created a limited liability company in bin Sulayem's name to make the $22.5 million purchase.[22][34]

In February 2017, he introduced Indian businessman Anil Ambani to Epstein.[35] That same year, bin Sulayem paid Jeffrey Epstein $6,200; a day later, Epstein paid Bin Sulayem the same amount.[33] In the summer of that year, Epstein's assistant tried to order 30 23andMe DNA test kits for bin Sulayem, costing just over $6,000, and have them delivered to Epstein's New York mansion. The company canceled the order when they discovered the kits were going to be used outside the U.S.[36]

Other exchanges between the two show Bin Sulayem facilitating the transfer of Epstein's masseuse to a spa in Turkey for training, Bin Sulayem sending Epstein a link to pornography, and Epstein advising Bin Sulayem on whether to attend Trump's first inauguration.[37] Bin Sulayem also emailed Epstein telling him "the Ukrainian and the Moldavian arrived. Big disappointment the Moldavian is not as attractive as the picture."[38] Epstein suggested that the women had enhanced their looks with Photoshop, to which Bin Sulayem replied: "Not only that she was too short and skinny."[38] In another exchange, Sulayem wrote, "Thank you my friend I am off the sample a fresh 100% female Russian at my yacht."[29]

In an image release by the US Department of Justice, Epstein is pictured alongside Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem as they are looking down at a miniature replica of the panel of the kiswah, the black, gold-embroidered cloth that covers the Kaaba at the centre of Islam's holiest site in Saudi Arabia, that hangs over the door of the structure.[39][40] On 10 February 2026, U.S. congressman Ro Khanna of California listed Bin Sulayem as one of six men whose names had been redacted from the Epstein files but whom Khanna had been able to identify after spending two hours viewing unredacted files at the United States Department of Justice.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ "(U) Jeffrey Epstein 90A-NY-3 151227 (UNSUB(S); Jeffrey Epstein-Victim; Death Investigation) 31E-NY-3027571 (Epstein, Jeffrey; Child Sex Trafficking) 15 August SITREP" (PDF). Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  2. ^ "Justice Department releases names of 3 people the FBI once called Jeffrey Epstein 'co-conspirators'". NBC News.
  3. ^ Ferguson, Malcolm (10 February 2026). "DOJ Identifies UAE Sultan Behind "Torture Video" Epstein Email". The New Republic. Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Boss of P&O Ferries owner DP World leaves over Jeffrey Epstein links". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Dubai's DP World boss removed from post after pressure over Epstein". Reuters.
  6. ^ Critchlow, Andrew (21 October 2009). "Dubai Inc. Is in Need of Change at the Top". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 29 January 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  8. ^ Gimbel, Barney (22 February 2008). "Searching for the next Dubai". Fortune (hosted on CNN Money). Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b Nandkeolyar, Karishma H. (14 January 2020). "Jebel Ali Free Zone: Everything you need to know about Jafza". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Company Formation in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)". KWS Middle East. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem: Group Chairman and CEO". DP World. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  12. ^ Timmons, Heather (27 January 2006). "Dubai Tops Singaporean Offer in Bids for British Port Operator". New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  13. ^ "DP World becomes third-largest ports company". The Economic Times. 6 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  14. ^ a b "Bin Sulayem replaced as Nakheel chairman". Arabian Business. Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Dubai state fund chief to chair developer Nakheel". Reuters. 21 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Istithmar World PJSC". Bloomberg Company Profiles. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  17. ^ Hand, Marcus (12 November 2018). "Sultan Bin Sulayem appointed chairman of Virgin Hyperloop One, DP World becomes largest investor". Seatrade Maritime News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  18. ^ Harnischfeger, Uta (19 December 2009). "Dubai Holding up to scrutiny". The National. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  19. ^ Sweney, Mark (13 February 2026). "Boss of P&O Ferries owner DP World leaves over Jeffrey Epstein links". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  20. ^ a b Kerr, Simeon (13 December 2010). "Bin Sulayem exit ends tumultuous era". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 February 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ^ "Middlesex University confers honorary doctorate on Sultan Bin Sulayem". Al Bawaba. 28 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  22. ^ a b Wilson, Harry; Leopold, Jason; Kao, Jeff; Mattu, Surya; Abelson, Max (10 February 2026). "One of Dubai's Most Powerful Executives Discussed Sex, Business With Epstein". Bloomberg. Retrieved 10 February 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  23. ^ a b "DP World boss emailed Epstein about sexual experiences". Financial Times. 2026.
  24. ^ "Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem named by Massie over Epstein "torture video" email". Newsweek. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Rep. Massie claims a 'Sultan' sent torture video to Epstein; 'make this public'". Hindustan Times. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  26. ^ "X".
  27. ^ "X".
  28. ^ "EFTA00663685.pdf United States Department of Justice" (PDF). www.justice.gov. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  29. ^ a b "CEO of Dubai's largest port replaced after ties to Epstein revealed". CBS News. 13 February 2026.
  30. ^ Matthew, Field (2 February 2026). "Epstein helped Dubai businessman lobby Mandelson over £1.8bn British port deal". The Telegraph.
  31. ^ a b "Head of Dubai-based ports giant quits after Epstein links revealed". BBC News. 13 February 2026.
  32. ^ Noor Haq, Sana (13 February 2026). "Powerful Dubai tycoon replaced after DOJ reveals sexually explicit emails with Epstein". CNN.
  33. ^ a b Safdar, Khadeeja (1 October 2025). "Exclusive | The Wall Street Firms That Kept Ties With Jeffrey Epstein Until the End". The Wall Street Journal.
  34. ^ Hall, Kevin G.; Brown, Julie K. (1 October 2019). "For Jeffrey Epstein, one island hideaway wasn't enough. How he stealthily acquired a second". Miami Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  35. ^ "Epstein Messages Reveal Anil Ambani Using Sex Offender's Access to Pitch Modi's Agenda With Trump". The Wire. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  36. ^ Bindman, Ariana (3 February 2026). "Jeffrey Epstein's assistant ordered so many 23andMe kits, the company asked why". SFGate. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  37. ^ "DP World boss discussed masseuse with Epstein, emails show" - Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  38. ^ a b Gentleman, Amelia (7 February 2025). "Sex and snacks, but no seat at the table: the role of women in Epstein's sordid men's club". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  39. ^ Uddin, Rayhan (9 February 2026). "Epstein and UAE businessman pictured with fragment resembling Kaaba cloth". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  40. ^ "Inside the Haramain: On the Viral "Kiswah on the Floor" Image and the Amanah of Verification". Inside The Haramain.
  41. ^ Gedeon, Joseph (10 February 2026). "Who are the six men named in the unredacted Epstein files?". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2026. The six men named by Khanna are Wexner, the Victoria's Secret founder; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World and an Emirati billionaire businessman; and four others identified as Nicola Caputo, Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze and Leonic Leonov.
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