Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem | |
|---|---|
At the WEF Annual Meeting in 2025 | |
| Born | Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem 1955 (age 69–70) Dubai, Emirate of Dubai, Trucial States |
| Alma mater | Temple University |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Title | Chairman & CEO, DP World Chairman, Hyperloop One |
| Board member of | Seven Tides |
| Children | Ahmed Sultan Bin Sulayem |
| Relatives | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (Brother) |
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem (Arabic: سلطان أحمد بن سليم, born 1955) is an Emirati businessman. He is the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of DP World and the chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation.
Family and education
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was born into the Sulayem family, one of Dubai's most prominent business and political families since the early 20th century. His father was a key advisor to Dubai's ruling Maktoum family.[1]
He graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in economics.[2]
Business career
Bin Sulayem worked as a customs officer at Dubai's port after graduating from college in the late 1970s. He was appointed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to be chairman of the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) in 1985.[3][4] He oversaw its rapid expansion, with JAFZA growing from hosting 19 companies in the mid-1980s to roughly 7,500 as of 2020.[5][6]
Bin Sulayem was made DP World chairman in 2007 and was appointed group chairman and CEO in February 2016.[7] Following the acquisition of British port operator Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation for $6.9 billion, DP World became the world’s third biggest port operator in 2010.[8][9]
Bin Sulayem led DP World's property development subsidiary Nakheel until 2010, becoming a board member in 2020.[10][11] The company was behind the construction of man-made islands in Dubai.[10] He helped establish and headed the DP World subsidiary private equity fund Istithmar World.[12]
He has been non-executive chairman of Virgin Hyperloop since 2018.[13] He is a board member of the Dubai Executive Council and the UAE Federal Tax Authority,[2] as well as the Investment Corporation of Dubai (the emirate's sovereign wealth fund) until 2009.[14]
Personal life
Bin Sulayem owns hotels on Nakheel's Palm Islands, and a stake in a real estate brokerage company.[15] He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University in Dubai in 2008.[16] His son, Ahmed Sultan Bin Sulayem, is the chairman of the government-owned Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.[15]
According to The Wall Street Journal, in 2017, Bin Sulayem paid Jeffrey Epstein $6,200, and a day later, Epstein paid Bin Sulayem the same amount.[17] The journal reported Bin Sulayem was scheduled to visit Epstein's townhouse during the period 2011–2014.[17]
References
- ^ Critchlow, Andrew (21 October 2009). "Dubai Inc. Is in Need of Change at the Top". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem - Agenda Contributor". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Dubai world - Feb. 21, 2008". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Jebel Ali Free Zone: Everything you need to know about Jafza". gulfnews.com. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Company Formation in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) | KWSME". www.kwsme.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Jebel Ali Free Zone: Everything you need to know about Jafza". gulfnews.com. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem". www.dpworld.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ Timmons, Heather (27 January 2006). "Dubai Tops Singaporean Offer in Bids for British Port Operator". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "DP World becomes third-largest ports company". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Bin Sulayem replaced as Nakheel chairman". Arabian Business. 30 March 2010.
- ^ "Dubai state fund chief to chair developer Nakheel". Reuters. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Isthmar World". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Sultan Bin Sulayem appointed chairman of Virgin Hyperloop One, DP World becomes largest investor". Seatrade Maritime. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Dubai Holding up to scrutiny". The National. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b Kerr, Simeon (13 December 2010). "Bin Sulayem exit ends tumultuous era". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Middlesex University confers honorary doctorate on Sultan Bin Sulayem". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b Safdar, Khadeeja (1 October 2025). "Exclusive | The Wall Street Firms That Kept Ties With Jeffrey Epstein Until the End". The Wall Street Journal.