Dubai’s prominent port operator DP World has officially appointed Essa Kazim as the new chairman of its board of directors and Yuvraj Narayan as the group’s chief executive officer, as reported by Dubai Media Office. This decision comes amidst growing pressure on Sultan bin Sulayem, the former chief, due to reported connections with Jeffrey Epstein.
United States Congress members have raised concerns after Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem’s name emerged in documents linked to Epstein, a convicted sex offender. These revelations have triggered a fresh investigation into Sulayem’s prior dealings with Epstein, although Reuters has not been able to verify the claims made in the released files by the US Department of Justice.
Sulayem, a key figure in Dubai’s business landscape, has overseen DP World’s operations for more than forty years, overseeing its transformation into one of the world’s leading logistics enterprises. The company asserts that it manages approximately 10% of the global trade volume.
Following the Epstein controversy, the UK’s development finance institution, British International Investment, and Canada’s second-largest pension fund have halted any new investments with DP World.