DP World CEO Resigns Amid Epstein Document Fallout

The global logistics giant DP World underwent a seismic leadership shift on Friday, February 13, 2026, as long-time Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem resigned effective immediately. The move follows intense international pressure after unredacted emails from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed his deep, decade-long ties to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The resignation marks one of the most significant corporate casualties of the “Epstein Files” to date, occurring just hours after major Western investment partners threatened to cut ties with the Dubai-based company.

The “Smoking Gun” Emails

While rumors of the association had circulated for months, the situation reached a breaking point this week when U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and members of Congress confirmed Bin Sulayem as the recipient of several explicit and controversial messages.

• “The Torture Video”: Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) highlighted an email from 2009 in which Epstein wrote to a “Sultan” (now confirmed as Bin Sulayem), stating, “I loved the torture video.”
• Post-Conviction Ties: Documents show that Bin Sulayem remained in frequent contact with Epstein long after the financier’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution.
• Boastful Exchanges: Emails from 2013 and 2015 included Bin Sulayem discussing intimate encounters on his yacht and sharing links to adult content and escort services with Epstein.

Financial Pressure and Corporate Backlash

The decision to step down appeared to be forced by a sudden freeze in global capital. In the 48 hours leading up to the resignation, two of DP World’s most critical financial partners took drastic action:

1. British International Investment (BII): The UK government-owned development arm suspended all new investments with DP World, stating they were “shocked” by the allegations.
2. Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ): Canada’s second-largest pension fund, which owns a 45% stake in DP World Canada, paused all future capital deployment, demanding “necessary actions” from the company.

Following the resignation on Friday, both BII and CDPQ released statements welcoming the leadership change and indicating they would resume their partnerships with the firm.

The New Leadership Team

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, acted quickly to stabilize the company—which manages roughly 10% of global container trade—by appointing two veteran insiders:

• Group CEO: Yuvraj Narayan. Previously the Deputy CEO and Group CFO since 2005, Narayan is credited with DP World’s international expansion and financial resilience.
• Chairman: Essa Kazim. The current Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Chairman of Borse Dubai.

Key Takeaways of the Transition