By HAN News Desk
OTTAWA — The Canadian government has suspended all investment cooperation with global port operator DP World following reports alleging a long-standing connection between the company’s chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Canadian officials said the decision was taken to safeguard public integrity standards and protect the responsible use of public assets. Authorities have also called for a full investigation into the matter.
The allegations, which have circulated in recent reports, have raised concerns among some Western investors and, according to officials familiar with the discussions, prompted heightened scrutiny of DP World’s international partnerships.
DP World, a Dubai-based multinational logistics company operating ports and trade infrastructure across several continents, has not publicly responded to the Canadian government’s decision at the time of publication.
The development is seen as potentially damaging to the company’s global reputation and could have broader implications for its ongoing and future partnerships with governments and institutions in Western countries.
Observers say the situation may also influence political leaders in other regions where DP World operates. In Somalia, for example, some analysts suggest that regional leaders such as Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi’s successor, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro), could face pressure to reassess their engagements with the company if the controversy escalates.
Canadian authorities have indicated that further steps will depend on the outcome of the requested investigation.
