Ukraine Includes Emirates President Tim Clark in List of International War Sponsors

Ukrainian National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) Adds Emirates President Tim Clark to International War Sponsors List

The Ukrainian National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) has taken action against Emirates president, Tim Clark, by adding him to its International War Sponsors (ISW) list. The move came in response to Clark’s affiliation with Dubai Port World (DP World), a prominent logistics and port operator based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

DP World designates Clark as an “Independent Non-Executive Director.” The NACP’s decision to include DP World, along with its 10 executives, on the ISW list was triggered by the company’s recent agreement with Rosatom, a Russian state-owned enterprise focused on nuclear and atomic energy. The deal, signed on June 15, 2023, aims to develop the Eurasian logistics and container shipping along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which could potentially become a crucial trade route connecting Asia and Europe.

In response to DP World’s cooperation with Rosatom, the NACP stated that the company not only failed to cease business dealings with Russia but also strengthened its “cooperation with the aggressor.” This development was highlighted when Mykhailo Mishustin, the head of the Russian government, declared the NSR project as strategically important and expected to bring substantial revenue to the Russian budget.

Tim Clark did not attend the signing ceremony in Saint Petersburg, Russia, as the representative from DP World was the Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. It was clarified that Clark had been appointed to his current role on June 1, 2022, as per DP World’s records.

The NACP emphasized that the addition of entities and individuals to the ISW list has “reputational only” implications and does not carry any legal repercussions. The decision to include Clark on the list stems from concerns that the deal with Rosatom could benefit the Russian state financially and may have implications for global trade.

Earlier in April 2022, Clark had stated that Emirates would continue its flights to Russia unless directed otherwise by the UAE government, stressing that it was not his personal decision. As of now, Emirates operates flights to two Russian airports, Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME), and St. Petersburg Pulkovo International Airport (LED).