In an unexpected turn that bridges global business and public scrutiny, the long-time head of one of the world’s largest port operators has stepped down amid controversy tied to newly released documents in a widely discussed legal archive. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem — chairman and chief executive officer of DP World, the Dubai-based logistics giant — resigned from his leadership roles after his name surfaced in emails linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, prompting questions from investors, lawmakers and partner institutions.
DP World, which operates ports and terminals in dozens of countries and plays a significant role in global trade, announced a change in leadership following mounting pressure from major stakeholders. Essa Kazim was appointed board chairman and Yuvraj Narayan took on the role of group chief executive officer, replacing the long-serving executive whose decisions helped shape Dubai’s rise as a global trade hub.
The resignations follow the publication of a tranche of emails and correspondence in the “Epstein files” released by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year. In these documents, bin Sulayem was ranked among Epstein’s frequent contacts, with exchanges spanning business and personal topics over more than a decade. Although there is no indication of criminal charges against him in relation to Epstein’s crimes, the associations revealed in the files drew intense attention from investors and institutions with ties to DP World.
Some institutional partners, including large pension funds and government-linked investment groups in the United Kingdom and Canada, paused planned investments or reviewed their involvement with DP World after the details emerged. These moves contributed to the climate of scrutiny surrounding the company’s leadership and its broader reputation.
For years, bin Sulayem was widely credited with expanding Dubai’s logistical footprint across continents, helping turn its flagship Jebel Ali port into a cornerstone of international shipping — a role that entwined him with global commerce, trade policy and diplomatic circles. His departure marks one of the most visible corporate changes tied to the ongoing fallout from the Epstein document releases, which have already prompted resignations and resignations in various sectors.
In a statement accompanying the leadership change, DP World said the appointments of Kazim and Narayan support the company’s “strategy for sustainable growth” and reinforce its commitment to strengthening global supply chains. Partners that suspended new funding indicated support for the shift in leadership and a desire to continue collaborative work.
For observers of global commerce and corporate governance, the episode is a reminder that reputation and conduct — past and present — can influence business decisions as much as performance and strategy. At its heart, this change reflects how organisations respond not only to commercial pressures but to evolving expectations about accountability and public perception in an interconnected world.
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Sources • Major international news coverage on the resignation of DP World chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem following revelations in the Epstein files. • Reports explaining leadership changes at DP World and responses from investors after bin Sulayem’s name appeared in the released documents.