Newly unsealed court documents have exposed a deeply troubling association between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of global ports operator DP World, revealing both the inappropriate handling of a sacred Islamic artifact and their vulgar correspondence.
The evidence includes a photograph depicting Epstein and the prominent Emirati businessman examining what appears to be the Kiswa—the sacred black cloth that drapes Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba in Mecca—laid out on a floor. The image, captured in 2014, shows both men with hands in their pockets at the bottom of a staircase, looking down at the religious artifact. The accompanying email contained a lewd joke, though its connection to the image remains unclear.
Further correspondence from 2017 reveals how Epstein acquired three pieces of the Kiswa through intermediaries, including UAE-based businesswoman Aziza al-Ahmadi. Emails detail the elaborate logistics of shipping the sacred cloth via air freight from Saudi Arabia to Epstein’s Florida residence, with careful coordination of invoices and customs arrangements.
In one message, Ahmadi explained the profound significance of the artifact: “The black piece was touched by minimum 10 million Muslims of different denominations… They walk around the Kaaba seven rounds then every one tries as much as they can to touch it and they kept their prayers, wishes, tears and hopes on this piece.”
The documents also expose the disturbing nature of Epstein’s relationship with bin Sulayem, which continued years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Their exchanges contain degrading language about women, discussions of sexual experiences, and inappropriate jokes about religion.
In one particularly vulgar email, bin Sulayem wrote to Epstein: “I am off to sample a fresh 100% female Russian at my yacht.” Another message complained about the appearance of women: “Big disappointment the Moldavian is not as attractive as the picture while the Ukrainian is very beautiful.” Epstein also sent the CEO links to escort services in Italy, to which bin Sulayem responded “Wow.”
Separately, bin Sulayem made an offensive joke about Muslim worshippers being terrorists: “A friend of mine went to the mosque in saudi. He said with all these terrorists Frankly you can’t tell whether the guy standing next to you is just scratching his balls or fiddling with the detonator button!!!”
Given the deep religious significance of the Kiswa, placing it on the floor would be considered profoundly disrespectful in Islamic tradition. The cloth is removed and replaced annually during Hajj, with pieces traditionally treated as valuable artifacts displayed in museums or gifted by the Saudi government to honored individuals and institutions.