Epstein files reach Quebec pension fund manager and the Port of Montreal

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chief executive officer of DP World, a port operator backed by Dubai, leaves the stage after a press conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Jon Gambrell/The Associated Press)

Quebec’s largest public pension fund manager, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), is suspending future investments with DP World because of alleged links between its top executive and Jeffrey Epstein, along with sexually themed messages the two are said to have exchanged.

The Port of Montreal, another DP World partner, says it will wait before reacting to the controversy.

It was the Journal de Montréal that first reported Tuesday morning that the CDPQ was putting “on pause” any “additional deployment alongside DP World.”

In a message to The Canadian Press, media relations director Jean-Benoit Houde confirmed the information, noting that “it is also important to distinguish between the company DP World and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, who is at issue here.”

Regarding the latter, Houde added, “we have been clear with the company that we expect it to fully clarify the situation and take the necessary measures.”

Business partners are distancing themselves from Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem as his alleged ties with Jeffrey Epstein gain more exposure in the media.

Sexual encounters and a visit to the island

The two men are believed to have maintained a relationship over several years, even after Epstein was added to the sex offender registry in 2008.

Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice do not implicate the sultan in Epstein’s confirmed or alleged crimes.

But the sultan’s name appears 336 times in documents released so far, and some emails refer to young women while others explicitly mention sexual encounters.

For example, in November 2013, in a message from an email address corresponding to “Sultan bin Sulayem” sent to Epstein, the writer states: “By the way, the Ukrainian and the Moldovan have arrived. Big disappointment,” because “the Moldovan is not as attractive as in the photo while the Ukrainian is really gorgeous.” The Moldovan woman, the writer adds, “is too short and too skinny.”

On Sept. 30, 2015, a person using the “Sultan bin Sulayem” email address sent Epstein a message with photos, writing they had met a Russian girl at a university and had “the best sex of his life” with her. Another email concerns a 21-year-old Ukrainian woman he met on “a dating site.”

In another message, “Sultan bin Sulayem” suggests that a Russian masseuse from Epstein’s private spa could do “training” at a Turkish hotel spa to “gain more experience.”

A 2013 email discusses the age, weight, height and bra size of someone “Sultan bin Sulayem” met in Paris.

An exchange from Sept. 8, 2005 — before Epstein was listed as a sex offender — refers to a visit to Epstein’s island.

“Dear Jeffrey, can you give me an idea of the date and time of our departure to your island? I wish to arrange some meetings in New York. I am quite flexible with my availability, but if you give me an approximate date and time, I will reorganize my schedule accordingly. Regards, Sultan Bin Sulayem.”

None of the exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, now 71, reviewed by The Canadian Press, make reference to minors.

A ‘faithful’ friend

The two men appear to have been genuinely close, as shown in a 2013 email exchange in which the person behind the “Sultan bin Sulayem” account wonders what the Qur’an says about friendship between Jews and Muslims, the sultan being Muslim and Epstein being Jewish.

“All I know is that you are one of my most faithful friends, in every sense of the word — you have never let me down, not once, not half a time, and I greatly appreciate the time we spend together,” Epstein replied.

In response to this expression of friendship, “Sultan bin Sulayem” thanked him, adding that he had to end the email exchange because a “fresh” “Russian” woman was on his yacht.

A shared interest in seaports

Many exchanges between “Sultan bin Sulayem” and Epstein involve DP World’s activities; the company’s name appears in 225 documents tied to the Epstein file. “Sultan bin Sulayem,” for example, shared several details about the future London Gateway port — four years before it opened.

The records show “Sultan bin Sulayem” sent Epstein many news articles and several press releases about DP World’s activities in ports around the globe.

In December 2016, for instance, he sent Epstein a release announcing a partnership between DP World and CDPQ.

At the time, CDPQ acquired a 45 per cent stake in DP World’s container terminals in Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

DP World operates dozens of marine terminals in countries around the world and is expected to lead the Port of Montreal’s expansion.

Last September, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) announced that design work for the Contrecœur port expansion would be entrusted to the company led by the sultan.

DP World will oversee construction of the terminal, including the container yard, buildings, utilities and rail link, and will also operate and maintain it for the next 40 years.

By early Tuesday afternoon, the MPA said it aligned itself with the CDPQ’s statement.

“As the Caisse has asked for clarity, we will await the results of that process with interest,” the MPA communications department said after The Canadian Press requested the Port’s reaction to the controversy surrounding the head of its major business partner.

Sheikh Mohammed, Bill Gates, Donald Trump…

Messages exchanged between Epstein and an email address associated with the DP World CEO paint a picture of the pair’s networks and influence, with exchanges spanning several years before Epstein’s death.

In March 2012, for example, Epstein wrote that he was visiting Berlin with the Israeli defence minister.

“I spoke to him about you and Sheikh Mohammed and he would like to meet both of you.”

In May of that year, Epstein wrote: “Bill Gates will be in Dubai on Tuesday. And you? Sheikh Mohammed may want a meeting.”

Later, in January 2017, “Sultan bin Sulayem” sought Epstein’s advice after receiving an invitation to Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.

“Do you think it will be possible to shake his hand?” he asked his friend, referring to the new president.

Epstein replied: “Call me to discuss if you are free.”

By Stéphane Blais

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 10, 2026