Pressure grows on Dubai's DP World over chief's Epstein ties

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Pressure grows on Dubai’s DP World over chief’s alleged Epstein ties

Editorial Team

February 13, 2026

Pressure grows on Dubais DP World over chiefs alleged Epstein ties — Dubai’s DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, 2025. Photo: DubaiDiplomacy.com/Screengrab/video/Arab Cast YT channel.

Emails show DP World’s cheif Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem communicated with Epstein for a long time.

DUBAI,— Two major institutional investors have stopped new funding for DP World after newly released U.S. court documents linked the company’s top executive to Jeffrey Epstein, Reuters reported.

British International Investment and Canadian pension fund La Caisse said they are suspending further financial commitments to the Dubai headquartered ports group.

The decisions follow disclosure of documents in which DP World Chairman and Chief Executive Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem is named in connection with Epstein.

U.S. congressmen said bin Sulayem’s name appears in files made public by the U.S. Department of Justice. The records are part of millions of pages detailing Epstein’s relationships with influential figures in politics, finance, academia and business.

An undated photo shows Jeffrey Epstein with Dubai’s DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. Photo: House Oversight Committee/via AP

Epstein was convicted in 2008 on prostitution charges involving an underage girl.

The documents suggest that bin Sulayem and Epstein had a relationship that continued for more than ten years after the 2008 conviction. Emails and text messages included in the files appear to show exchanges about business matters, sexually related conversations and possible travel plans to Epstein’s island in the Caribbean.

Inclusion in the files is not proof of criminal conduct.

DP World did not provide comment when contacted by Reuters. Bin Sulayem did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to his LinkedIn profile.

British International Investment said it has put new investments with DP World on hold. The UK agency currently invests alongside the company in four African port projects.

“We are shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein files regarding Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem,” a spokesperson for the agency said.

The spokesperson added that no new investments would be made until the company has taken required steps in response to the allegations.

Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ sex offender registry, March 28, 2017. Photo: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services via Reuters.

La Caisse said it was pausing additional capital deployment with DP World until the company provides clarification and takes what it described as necessary measures.

Bin Sulayem has played a central role in Dubai’s business expansion and is regarded as one of the emirate’s leading executives. Under his leadership, DP World has grown into one of the largest port and logistics operators worldwide.

The company states that it is responsible for handling roughly 10 percent of global trade. It operates in multiple markets, including Canada, Peru, India and Angola.

DP World maintains a visible presence in international sports. It sponsors a major European professional golf tour and has served as logistics partner to McLaren’s Formula 1 team since 2023. Its branding is displayed on cricket players in South Africa and football players in Australia.

McLaren declined to comment when asked whether it was reassessing its partnership with DP World.

Beyond his position at DP World, bin Sulayem is listed as chairman of the Dubai International Chamber and the Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.

He is also credited, in a biography on DP World’s website, with establishing Nakheel, the developer behind Dubai’s palm shaped artificial islands, and contributing to the creation of the commodities exchange DMCC.