Emails Show Continued Contact Between Epstein and Emirati Business Leader
Correspondence After 2008 Conviction
An influential Emirati businessman remained in contact with Jeffrey Epstein for years after the American financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses, according to emails reviewed by Bloomberg News.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of Dubai-based logistics company DP World, exchanged messages with Epstein well over a decade after Epstein served a prison sentence on charges that included procuring a minor for prostitution.
Personal and Business Exchanges
The emails reveal that bin Sulayem sent both business-related and personal messages. In a September 2015 exchange, he described a renewed relationship with a foreign exchange student in Dubai in what Bloomberg characterized as intimate and boastful terms.
In addition, the correspondence shows that the two men shared political and business contacts. They discussed potential deals and personal matters, and at times sought to assist each other in arranging introductions.
The emails also indicate that bin Sulayem frequently mentioned visits to Epstein’s private Caribbean island. Furthermore, he offered support when Epstein explored plans to develop a private resort.
Bin Sulayem and DP World did not respond to several requests for comment, Bloomberg reported.
Network of High-Profile Contacts
The correspondence suggests that Epstein introduced bin Sulayem to several figures in his network over the years. US Justice Department records indicate that New York real estate investor Andrew Farkas may have introduced the two men. Emails also show that bin Sulayem planned to attend a marina opening near Epstein’s private island in 2007.
A spokesperson for Farkas said his relationship with Epstein was strictly business-related. He expressed regret over the association and condemned Epstein’s crimes.
During that period, bin Sulayem led both DP World and its state-owned parent company, Dubai World. He stepped down from Dubai World in 2010 following the global financial crisis.
Proposed Business Introductions
According to the emails, Epstein offered to connect bin Sulayem with several prominent figures, including Gene Pressman of the Barneys New York founding family. However, it remains unclear whether these introductions led to formal business agreements.
The messages also show that Epstein attempted to arrange contacts with Hyatt Hotels Chairman Tom Pritzker, retail executive Les Wexner, and banker Jes Staley, who later became chief executive of Barclays Plc.
Pritzker declined to comment. Meanwhile, UK regulators later barred Staley from the financial sector for misleading authorities about the extent of his ties to Epstein.
Final Communications Before 2019 Arrest
Emails released by the US Justice Department further show that bin Sulayem and former US strategist Steve Bannon discussed a possible meeting in the United Arab Emirates in 2018. It remains unclear whether the meeting took place, and Bannon did not comment.
Days before his 2019 arrest, Epstein circulated a contact list that included bin Sulayem, identified as “sultan.” The final message attributed to bin Sulayem, sent on the day of Epstein’s arrest, contained only a non-functioning attachment.
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