Emirati Billionaire Dismissed from DP World Following Epstein Email Revelations
An Emirati billionaire who contributed £1 million to Prince William's Earthshot climate charity has been removed from his position at DP World after the disclosure of explicit email and text communications with convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, aged 71, was identified as one of six affluent and influential men whose names were initially concealed in documents released by the US Department of Justice.
Charity Commission Alerted Over Earthshot Prize Connections
The Prince of Wales' Earthshot Prize has been formally reported to the UK's Charity Commission due to its associations with Sulayem. Serving as a Global Alliance Founding Partner through his professional role, Sulayem made donations exceeding £1 million to the environmental initiative. Today, it was confirmed that he has stepped down as chair and chief executive of DP World, a Dubai-based global logistics firm that owns P&O Ferries and sponsors the European golf tour.
Explicit Exchanges Uncovered in Epstein Files
The recently unsealed Epstein documents reveal that Sulayem and Epstein engaged in regular correspondence over several years, discussing intimate details of their sex lives. In one message from April 2009, while Epstein was serving an 18-month sentence for soliciting underage sex, he inquired about Sulayem's well-being and remarked, "I loved the torture video." Another lewd email from Sulayem in 2013 described a misunderstanding during a meeting in New York, where he stated, "she wanted some BUSINESS! while i only wanted some P*SSYNESS!"
Further communications included Sulayem sharing a woman's physical measurements and asking Epstein if she might be male, to which Epstein replied, "the hands do look like mine." In 2015, Sulayem boasted about a sexual encounter as "the best sex I ever had amazing body," and in 2017, Epstein sent him a link to an Italian escort website, prompting Sulayem to respond with "Wow."
Political and Charitable Repercussions
Republican Representative Thomas Massie identified Sulayem as the recipient of these emails, which were accessible to lawmakers in unredacted form. The anti-monarchy group Republic has urged the Charity Commission to investigate, with CEO Graham Smith emphasizing the need for due diligence regarding donors. A Charity Commission spokesperson acknowledged the concerns and is assessing the information to determine appropriate actions.
Prince William and Sulayem have been seen together publicly, including at the 2022 Earthshot Prize Innovation Showcase in Dubai. The Earthshot Prize, founded in 2020 by Prince William and David Attenborough, aims to promote innovative solutions for planetary repair. DP World, listed as a founding partner on the charity's website, is confirmed to have donated at least £1 million.
DP World's statement today announced Essa Kazim as the new board chair and Yuvraj Narayan as CEO, without mentioning Sulayem, despite his nearly two-decade tenure and estimated $7 billion earnings from transforming the company. The Dubai government issued the statement, highlighting the leadership changes amid the escalating scandal.
