Dubai-based global ports operator DP World said on Friday that its long-serving chairman and chief executive, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, has stepped down following mounting pressure linked to alleged ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The announcement came as fallout continued from the recent release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice that have triggered renewed scrutiny of prominent political and business figures worldwide. Bin Sulayem is among the highest-profile executives to leave a senior role since the publication of the files.
Dubai’s ruler issued a decree appointing a new chairman for the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, one of several influential positions previously held by Bin Sulayem.
Members of the U.S. Congress said Bin Sulayem’s name appeared in documents released by the Justice Department, prompting questions over past interactions with Epstein. Reuters has not independently verified the allegations. Being named in the documents does not in itself constitute evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Pressure intensified this week after two major institutional investors said they would suspend new investments with DP World.
The UK’s development finance institution British International Investment said it welcomed the leadership change and looked forward to continuing its partnership to advance African port infrastructure projects.
Canada’s pension fund La Caisse also said the company had taken “appropriate measures” and that it would work with DP World’s new leadership on port investments globally.
Dubai Media Office earlier reported that Essa Kazim, currently governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre, has been appointed chairman of the board. Yuvraj Narayan, who joined DP World in 2004 and most recently served as deputy CEO, will assume the role of group chief executive.
The developments come amid widening international repercussions tied to the Epstein files. The Financial Times reported that Kathy Ruemmler, general counsel at Goldman Sachs, will step down this summer over past associations mentioned in the documents.
In Britain, political tensions also flared after the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, with several members of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration resigning amid the controversy.
The documents suggest that Epstein maintained relationships with influential figures across politics, finance, academia and business for years after his 2008 conviction on prostitution charges involving a minor. The files include communications that appear to show discussions about business dealings and social visits.
Epstein was found dead in a New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
Bin Sulayem has long been regarded as one of the architects of Dubai’s emergence as a global trade and tourism hub. He played a role in establishing Nakheel, the developer behind the emirate’s palm-shaped islands and contributed to the creation of Dubai’s commodities exchange, DMCC.
Under his leadership, DP World expanded into one of the world’s largest port and logistics operators, handling roughly 10% of global container traffic. The company operates terminals across multiple continents, including in Canada, Peru, India and Angola.
DP World also sponsors a leading European professional golf tour and has served as the logistics partner for McLaren’s Formula 1 team since 2023.
Four major German political foundations have halted their work in Georgia as tighter rules on foreign grants put pressure on a decades-old partners...
The U.S. has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to the Gulf, protecting key energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Washingto...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan held talks in Tehran on Monday on bilateral ties and efforts t...
Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, with Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), appointed as acting oil minister, according to Iranian state media.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
Uzbekistan’s grape exports have grown rapidly. In January-August 2025, the country exported 86,200 tonnes of fresh grapes worth $78.3 million to 19 countries but can it turn these crops into a recognisable international product?
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets seven conditions agreed under a June memorandum, as President Donald Trump signals he may soon decide whether to resume military operations against Tehran.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 5 October 2026. These are the top five elections making headlines around the world.
The United States has withdrawn all 12 of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain, just a week after several people were arrested over an alleged plot targeting the air base.
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called a snap election for 29 November in a bid to strengthen his mandate after a fragmented parliament rejected the government's key housing decrees last week amid widespread protests.
King Charles’ younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has launched legal action against Thames Valley Police over his arrest in connection with an investigation into documents allegedly passed to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Telegraph reported on Sunday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment