Meet the high-profile Emirati business leader lawmakers are linking to Epstein ‘torture’ email

February 12, 2026 - 10:13

U.S. officials have identified Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the influential Chairman and CEO of global ports operator DP World, as the recipient of a 2009 email from the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence, revealed in recent court filings, contained a reference to a purported "torture video."

The email, sent from Epstein to bin Sulayem, included the subject line "torture video" and a brief, cryptic message. The exact contents and nature of the alleged video remain unclear, and there is no public evidence suggesting bin Sulayem requested, received, or viewed any such material. A representative for the Emirati business leader has stated he has no recollection of the email and strongly denies any knowledge of its subject matter.

The disclosure forms part of the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. While the email itself does not imply wrongdoing by bin Sulayem, its existence has drawn his name into the sprawling investigation, highlighting the vast and international scope of Epstein’s network. Bin Sulayem, a major figure in global logistics and a key leader in Dubai’s economic landscape, has not been accused of any crime in relation to this matter. The incident underscores how the Epstein case continues to ensnare prominent figures from various sectors worldwide, often through tangential connections in decades-old correspondence.