Two major public finance institutions in Canada and Britain have suspended plans for new projects alongside Dubai-based ports operator DP World after U.S. Justice Department files showed years of private correspondence between the company’s chief executive, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance institution, said it would halt fresh commitments involving DP World pending further action by the company.
In a statement, a spokesperson said the agency was “shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein files regarding Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem” and would not pursue additional investments with the firm “until the required actions have been taken by the company.”
La Caisse, one of Canada’s largest pension fund managers, issued a similar notice, saying it was pausing new “capital deployment” alongside DP World. “We have made it clear to the company that we expect it to shed light on the situation and take the necessary actions,” the fund said.
Neither BII nor La Caisse holds a direct equity stake in DP World, but both have partnered with the company on port infrastructure ventures in multiple countries.
The scrutiny follows the publication of additional Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Among the material are email exchanges dating back more than a decade between Epstein and an address identified in the files as belonging to Sultan bin Sulayem, who serves as chairman and chief executive of DP World.
Epstein, a financier who was charged in 2019 with sex trafficking of minors, died by suicide in a New York jail while awaiting trial. The newly released communications do not allege that Sulayem was involved in Epstein’s criminal conduct.
However, some of the emails contain references to pornography, sexual services and escorts. In one exchange from 2009, Epstein wrote, “where are you? are you ok , I loved the torture video.” The recipient, whose address was redacted in an image circulating online, replied: “I am in china I will be in the US 2nd week of may.”
The documents gained renewed public attention this week after U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican, posted an image of the redacted correspondence on social media platform X. “A Sultan seems to have sent this,” Massie wrote, urging the Justice Department to release further details.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche responded publicly that “the Sultan’s name is available unredacted in the files,” pointing to another document that identifies “Sultan Bin Sulayem.”
Additional messages disclosed in the release show the two men discussing a range of subjects over several years.
In a 2013 email, Epstein wrote to Sulayem: “you are one of my most trusted friends in every sense of the word, you have never let me down.” Sulayem replied: “Thank you my friend.
That same year, according to the files, Sulayem sent Epstein an email displaying a menu from a massage business that included sexual services.
In 2015, Sulayem texted a link to a pornographic website, and in 2017 Epstein sent a link to an escort website.
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Other exchanges show discussions about U.S. political figures. In 2018, Epstein wrote to Sulayem about Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, saying “you will like him.” In another email, Sulayem asked Epstein about an event where Trump appeared likely to attend, writing: “Do you think it will be possible to shake hand with trump.” Epstein replied: “Call to discuss.”
DP World did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding the emails or the decisions by BII and La Caisse. The company has not publicly addressed the contents of the Justice Department release.
Sulayem is one of the most prominent business executives in the United Arab Emirates. He has led DP World since its formation in 2005 and previously chaired Dubai World, a state-owned conglomerate that once included property developer Nakheel. Nakheel was responsible for high-profile projects such as Dubai’s palm-shaped artificial islands and “The World” archipelago, developments that became emblematic of the emirate’s rapid expansion in the 2000s.
DP World operates the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, one of the largest container terminals in the Middle East, and manages dozens of port and logistics facilities across six continents.
The company plays a central role in Dubai’s trade-driven economy and has expanded through joint ventures and concessions in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
British International Investment and La Caisse have both worked with DP World on port and logistics projects intended to support trade and infrastructure development in emerging markets. Their statements indicate that existing investments remain in place, but no additional commitments will be made until the matter is clarified.
The U.S. Justice Department has not announced any investigation involving Sulayem in connection with the newly released documents. The agency has continued to publish materials related to Epstein following court proceedings and public records requests.
