A 20-question interview with international property consultant Esam Sultan
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Frank Sinatra.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Knowing is good, checking is better”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2016?
Blackberry smartphones.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Living at home and being within walking distance to friends and the park.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
More hours in the day.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?
A gentleman’s club with very few gentlemen involved.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“If you can’t beat, them join them” – It’s the definition of defeatist.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I agree to an extent. Ultimately it’s what you devote your time to. Some may be charitable towards friends, families or organisations. It’s easy to value charity at financial contribution but I believe time is more valuable. I personally support Amnesty, the Bobby Moore Fund and Justice for The 96 campaign.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
Only give out your number if you want people to call you.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Steven Gerrard, J. K. Rowling, Diego Maradona, Pele, Daft Punk and their equipment, Tom Hanks, Frank Sinatra, Ellie Goulding, Jack Black, Mia Barclay, Johan Cruyff, Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Saci Ouhib, Robert Kempton, Darren Murphy, Joe Ramsden, my friends and family from Sharjah (they know who they are).
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Creamy garlic chicken with rice.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
An impossible question.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A cup of tea.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
House parties or sports team socials. Anyone is welcome and fun is the objective.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Mia Barclay.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Reading the back pages of most publications.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
My date of birth.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Mercedez-Benz.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I’m related to John Lydon. He’s my mother’s second cousin.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A photo of my late grandfather and a photo of me with my brothers and sisters.
Born in London and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Esam Sultan works at Harrods Estates as an international sales consultant and sees himself as “the product of two worlds”. Having an Arab father and an English mother has, for him, “set the tone for what’s been a journey of connectivity between cultures, ideas, philosophies and ways of thinking”.
Follow him on Twitter at @easmsultan and on Instagram at @esamsultan.