Commentators and figures from the United Arab Emirates are coming to the defence of two state-linked Emirati figures mentioned in the Epstein files.

Sulayem was on Friday replaced as the chairman and chief executive of DP World, the global UAE-owned logistics company, following days of criticism over his friendship with Epstein.

The 71-year-old had been chair of the company - which handles a tenth of the world’s container trade - since 2007, and chief executive since 2016.

“A million thanks to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem; you have sufficed and fulfilled, and given the very best you have,” wrote Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent academic seen as a voice representative of the UAE's ruling establishment.