<p>Dubai princess Sheikha Mahra, who divorced her husband on social media, just two months after giving birth to their baby, is officially engaged to Moroccan-American rapper French Montana, as confirmed by <i>TMZ</i>. A spokesperson for Montana revealed that the couple formalised their relationship during Paris Fashion Week in June 2025. The engagement has drawn significant attention, coming shortly after the announcement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement, and creating a buzz across both celebrity and royal circles. Mahra is the daughter of Dubai ruler and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Rumours about Sheikha Mahra’s relationship with Montana began circulating in late 2024 when she hosted the rapper in Dubai and shared photos on social media that hinted at their growing closeness. Since then, the pair have been seen frequently in both Dubai and Morocco, dining at upscale restaurants, visiting cultural sites, and walking together across Paris’s Pont des Arts bridge. The couple made their relationship public earlier this year during appearances at high-profile fashion events in Paris. While Sheikha Mahra and Montana are now engaged, they are reportedly still finalising wedding plans, with possible venues being considered in both the Middle East and Europe.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Read More | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/govinda-looks-unfazed-in-his-first-appearance-since-news-of-divorce-with-sunita-ahuja-blows-kisses-at-the-media-1755916388373"><strong>Govinda looks unfazed in his first appearance since news of divorce with Sunita Ahuja</strong></a></p><h3><strong>Sheikha Mahra’s Divorce Statement</strong></h3><p>Sheikha Mahra made headlines when she announced her divorce from Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum on Instagram on July 16, 2024. She took to Instagram to declare the divorce, accusing her husband of infidelity. In the post, she stated that, since he was preoccupied with other companions, she was ending the marriage. She repeated the phrase "I divorce you" three times and concluded the message by signing off as his ex-wife, urging him to take care.. The marriage, which took place in May 2023. “Dear Husband, as you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife.” The couple share a daughter from that union.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Read More | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-i-divorce-you-i-divorce-you-and-dubai-princess-divorces-husband-on-instagram-741766"><strong>'I divorce you, I divorce you and...': Dubai princess divorces husband on Instagram</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GS8OS6MbIAAt2ee.jpg" alt="Almost on X: &quot;&quot;Dear Husband, As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby  declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I Divorce you. Take  care. Your ex-wife,&quot; Sheikha"></figure><p><strong>Read More | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/amid-divorce-rumours-michelle-obama-explains-why-she-s-seen-less-with-barack-obama-1750997279703"><strong>Amid divorce rumours, Michelle Obama explains why she's seen less with Barack Obama</strong></a></p><h3><strong>‘Divorce’ perfume</strong></h3><p>Following her highly publicised separation from Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, Dubai royal Sheikha Mahra took a bold step into the entrepreneurial world by launching a new fragrance line titled "Divorce." Released under her personal brand Mahra M1, the perfume is seen as a symbolic representation of empowerment, independence, and reclaiming one’s identity after personal upheaval. The fragrance’s branding reflects themes of strength, transformation, and elegance, with Sheikha Mahra reportedly playing an active role in its development—from scent selection to design and messaging. “Divorce” is marketed not just as a perfume but as a narrative of personal growth and freedom. The move underscores Sheikha Mahra’s shift from royal tradition to modern entrepreneurship, positioning her as a progressive figure among Gulf royals. As per reports, Mahra holds a degree in International Relations from a university in the UK and has completed training at the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Administration.</p>

Dubai royal Sheikha Mahra, who divorced her husband on Instagram and later launched a perfume named ‘Divorce’, is now officially engaged to Rapper French Montana. The couple, linked since late 2024, have been seen together in Dubai, Morocco, and Paris.

Dubai princess Sheikha Mahra, who divorced her husband on social media, just two months after giving birth to their baby, is officially engaged to Moroccan-American rapper French Montana, as confirmed by TMZ. A spokesperson for Montana revealed that the couple formalised their relationship during Paris Fashion Week in June 2025. The engagement has drawn significant attention, coming shortly after the announcement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement, and creating a buzz across both celebrity and royal circles. Mahra is the daughter of Dubai ruler and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Rumours about Sheikha Mahra’s relationship with Montana began circulating in late 2024 when she hosted the rapper in Dubai and shared photos on social media that hinted at their growing closeness. Since then, the pair have been seen frequently in both Dubai and Morocco, dining at upscale restaurants, visiting cultural sites, and walking together across Paris’s Pont des Arts bridge. The couple made their relationship public earlier this year during appearances at high-profile fashion events in Paris. While Sheikha Mahra and Montana are now engaged, they are reportedly still finalising wedding plans, with possible venues being considered in both the Middle East and Europe. Read More | Govinda looks unfazed in his first appearance since news of divorce with Sunita Ahuja Sheikha Mahra’s Divorce Statement Sheikha Mahra made headlines when she announced her divorce from Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum on Instagram on July 16, 2024. She took to Instagram to declare the divorce, accusing her husband of infidelity. In the post, she stated that, since he was preoccupied with other companions, she was ending the marriage. She repeated the phrase "I divorce you" three times and concluded the message by signing off as his ex-wife, urging him to take care.. The marriage, which took place in May 2023. “Dear Husband, as you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife.” The couple share a daughter from that union. Read More | 'I divorce you, I divorce you and...': Dubai princess divorces husband on Instagram Read More | Amid divorce rumours, Michelle Obama explains why she's seen less with Barack Obama ‘Divorce’ perfume Following her highly publicised separation from Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, Dubai royal Sheikha Mahra took a bold step into the entrepreneurial world by launching a new fragrance line titled "Divorce." Released under her personal brand Mahra M1, the perfume is seen as a symbolic representation of empowerment, independence, and reclaiming one’s identity after personal upheaval. The fragrance’s branding reflects themes of strength, transformation, and elegance, with Sheikha Mahra reportedly playing an active role in its development—from scent selection to design and messaging. “Divorce” is marketed not just as a perfume but as a narrative of personal growth and freedom. The move underscores Sheikha Mahra’s shift from royal tradition to modern entrepreneurship, positioning her as a progressive figure among Gulf royals. As per reports, Mahra holds a degree in International Relations from a university in the UK and has completed training at the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Administration.

<p>Dubai royal Sheikha Mahra, who divorced her husband on Instagram and later launched a perfume named ‘Divorce’, is now officially engaged to Rapper French Montana. The couple, linked since late 2024, have been seen together in Dubai, Morocco, and Paris.</p>

Dubai princess Sheikha Mahra, who divorced husband on Instagram, engaged to rapper French Montana - Who is she

Princess Mahra Al Maktoum of Dubai, who divorced her husband on social media a few weeks back, is back in the news. She has come up with her own perfume line and has ironically named it "Divorce".

Princess Mahra Al Maktoum of Dubai, who divorced her husband on social media a few weeks back, is back in the news. She has come up with her own perfume line and has ironically named it "Divorce". It has been released under her brand Mahra M1. She had earlier shared a teaser of the perfume on Instagram, and it was all things deep and dark. The perfume bottle bears the name "Divorce" on the front and people on social media are applauding her for naming it so. "No way she made a perfume named DIVORCE. Love this !!!!!" a user wrote. Another wrote, "So creative! Your ex is burning in pain lol." View this post on Instagram A post shared by @mahraxm1 × View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaikha Mahra Mohammed Rashed Al Maktoum (@hhshmahra) × Some people combined Mahra's move with the "very demure, very mindful" trend and showed their appreciation for the way she has moved forward after the divorce. One of the comments read, "In 2024, women don’t cry. We launch new businesses! Very demure, very private, very mindful, very profitable." "Do you see how Mahra is moving accordingly? Very demure, very quietly, very princessey," another user wrote. "She is not like most of you throwing tantrums or making videos online, no, she is very classy, very reserved, very standing on business," she added. While the fragrance notes of Mahra's perfume "Divorce" are not known, it is expected to be strong, going by the theme of the teaser. Everything in the teaser is black - black panther, black rose petals, black broken glass and black sheets. The teaser perfectly plays on the theme of divorce, especially with the broken glass. Who is Shaikha Mahra? Shaikha Mahra broke the internet after divorcing her husband, industrialist Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum over Instagram in July. She doled out triple talaq online, and wrote, "Dear Husband. As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaikha Mahra Mohammed Rashed Al Maktoum (@hhshmahra) × The couple married in May 2023 and had a daughter a year later. Shaikha Mahra is the daughter of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai.

Dubai princess launches 'Divorce' perfume weeks after dumping husband on Instagram

<p>Dubai princess Shaikha Mahra Mohammed Rashed Al Maktoum divorced her husband Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum via a social media post in a dramatic manner. The announcement came two months after the birth of their first child. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The princess took to her Instagram and wrote: "Dear Husband, as you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/men-with-beards-may-be-more-stable-romantic-partners-than-clean-shaved-ones-claims-study-741749">Men with beards may be more stable romantic partners than clean-shaved ones, claims study</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Last year in May, Princess married industrialist Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A year later, they welcomed their daughter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the Instagram post dated July 16, the princess has accused her husband of infidelity.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-one-set-of-twins-two-fathers-heteropaternal-superfecundation-the-condition-bad-newz-tackles-741050">One set of twins, two fathers: Heteropaternal superfecundation, the condition Bad Newz tackles</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Social media users were left divided over whether or not such news should be shared on social media forums, but a majority of people came forward to support her.</p>

<p>In the comment section, one user wrote, "Everybody have there persnal choice...but this should not release in social media...it's your individual metter ...anyway god bless you for your future. (sic)"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another wrote: "be the vote for all women's HH MAHRA WE PROUD AND BEHIND YOUR DECISION (sic)"&nbsp;</p>

<p>One user said, "Princess he doesn't deserve you !!! Now book a trip to Indonesia or somewhere and enjoy life without barriers!!!!"&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Some social media users pointed out that the couple had unfollowed each other on Instagram and&nbsp;also noticed that some of the previously shared images are now deleted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last month, she shared a post on Instagram with an image showing her and the baby. The post raised eyebrows as she wrote in a caption: "Just the two of us."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Shaikha Mahra?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Shaikha Mahra is the daughter of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She is known for her advocacy for women's empowerment. Shaikha Mahra&nbsp;is a staunch supporter of local UAE designers. She earned a degree in International Relations from a university in the United Kingdom and also holds a college degree from the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Administration.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Dubai princess Shaikha Mahra Mohammed Rashed Al Maktoum divorced her husband Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum via a social media post in a dramatic manner.

Dubai princess Shaikha Mahra Mohammed Rashed Al Maktoum divorced her husband Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum via a social media post in a dramatic manner. The announcement came two months after the birth of their first child. The princess took to her Instagram and wrote: "Dear Husband, as you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife." Also read: Men with beards may be more stable romantic partners than clean-shaved ones, claims study Last year in May, Princess married industrialist Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum. A year later, they welcomed their daughter. In the Instagram post dated July 16, the princess has accused her husband of infidelity. Also read: One set of twins, two fathers: Heteropaternal superfecundation, the condition Bad Newz tackles Social media users were left divided over whether or not such news should be shared on social media forums, but a majority of people came forward to support her. In the comment section, one user wrote, "Everybody have there persnal choice...but this should not release in social media...it's your individual metter ...anyway god bless you for your future. (sic)" Another wrote: "be the vote for all women's HH MAHRA WE PROUD AND BEHIND YOUR DECISION (sic)" One user said, "Princess he doesn't deserve you !!! Now book a trip to Indonesia or somewhere and enjoy life without barriers!!!!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaikha Mahra Mohammed Rashed Al Maktoum (@hhshmahra) × Some social media users pointed out that the couple had unfollowed each other on Instagram and also noticed that some of the previously shared images are now deleted. Last month, she shared a post on Instagram with an image showing her and the baby. The post raised eyebrows as she wrote in a caption: "Just the two of us." Who is Shaikha Mahra? Shaikha Mahra is the daughter of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She is known for her advocacy for women's empowerment. Shaikha Mahra is a staunch supporter of local UAE designers. She earned a degree in International Relations from a university in the United Kingdom and also holds a college degree from the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Administration. (With inputs from agencies)

'I divorce you, I divorce you and...': Dubai princess divorces husband on Instagram

<p>Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been ordered by the High&nbsp;Court&nbsp;in&nbsp;London&nbsp;to provide a British record of more than 554 million pounds ($733 million) to settle a custody battle with his ex-wife over their two children.</p>

<p>The bulk of the massive award to Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, half-sister of Jordan's King Abdullah, and the couple's two children, is to ensure their lifetime security, not least to address the "grave risk" posed to them by the sheikh himself, said the judge, Philip Moor.</p>

<p>The judge said: "She is not asking for an award for herself other than for security" and to compensate her for the possessions she lost as a result of the marital breakdown.</p>

<p>He directed Mohammed to make a one-off payment of 251.5 million pounds within three months to Haya for the upkeep of her British mansions, to cover the money she said she was owed for jewellery and racehorses, and for her future security costs.</p>

<p>The sheikh, who is vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, was also told to provide 3 million pounds towards the education of Jalila, 14, and Zayed, 9, and 9.6 million pounds in arrears. He was also asked to pay 11.2 million pounds a year for the children's maintenance, and for their security when they become adults.</p>

<p>These payments will be guaranteed via a 290 million pound security held by HSBC bank. The final sum, despite being believed by some&nbsp;London&nbsp;lawyers to be the largest public award ever ordered by an English family&nbsp;court, is less than half of the 1.4 billion pounds that Haya had originally sought.</p>

<p>During almost seven hours of testimony, Haya, 47, said a large one-off payment would allow for a clean break and remove the sheikh's hold over her and their children.</p>

<p>"I really want to be free and I want them to be free," she told the&nbsp;court.</p>

<p>Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the sheikh said he "has always ensured that his children are provided for" and asked for the media to respect their privacy. A lawyer for Haya did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>

<p>The settlement is the latest development in a legal saga that began when the princess fled to Britain in April 2019, fearing for her safety after she began an affair with one of her bodyguards, and a month after she had asked the sheikh for a divorce.</p>

<p>Later that year, the&nbsp;London&nbsp;court&nbsp;ruled Mohammed had carried out a campaign of threats and intimidation that made her fear for her life, and that he had also previously abducted and mistreated two of his daughters by another marriage.</p>

<p>Earlier this year, the President of the Family Division in England and Wales, a senior judge, also determined that Mohammed had ordered the phones of Haya and her lawyers, one of whom is a parliamentary lawmaker, to be hacked using the sophisticated "Pegasus" state security software.</p>

<p>Haya had not asked for any divorce settlement. She did not offer an explanation, but her lawyers said she would have been entitled to seek billions as the ex-wife of one of the world's richest men.</p>

<p>"The mother's financial claims, and the size of the relief that's being sought, are quite unprecedented," the sheikh's lawyer, Nigel Dyer, told the&nbsp;court&nbsp;during hearings which could not be reported until Tuesday.</p>

<p>He said her demands were excessive and she was really claiming for herself under the guise of her children. He also accused the princess of misusing the children's funds, saying that she had paid out 6.7 million pounds to blackmailers, who were part of her security team, to keep an affair quiet.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;court&nbsp;did not hear from the alleged blackmailers. Haya said she used money from the children's accounts because she was frightened.</p>

<p><strong>THE 70 MILLION POUND&nbsp;COURT&nbsp;FIGHT</strong></p>

<p>Haya's lawyer, Nicholas Cusworth, said legal fees over two and a half years had reached more than 70 million pounds, adding "the true extent of the colossal sums spent by (Mohammed) will never be known".</p>

<p>The bulk of Haya's financial award will go on security, according to the details of the settlement. This was to keep the children safe from being abducted by their own father, the ruling said, including cash for a fleet of armoured cars which would be replaced every few years.</p>

<p>Moor said Haya and her children needed the extensive provision to protect them from the sheikh, as well as because of their royal status.</p>

<p>"Absolutely uniquely, the main threat they face is from (the sheikh) himself not from outside sources," Moor said.</p>

<p>"There will remain a clear and ever present risk to (Haya) for the remainder of her life, whether it be from (Mohammed) or just from the normal terrorist," he said, referring to security threats faced by someone in Haya's position.</p>

<p>Such were the concerns that Haya's head of security - known only as 'Director 1' - had to be brought into the&nbsp;courtroom to give evidence about her security needs with the windows blacked out, shielded with a curtain from all except Moor and two lawyers, and his name handed to the judge on a piece of paper.</p>

<p><strong>LIMITLESS MONEY</strong></p>

<p>Haya's lawyers told the judge the money available to the princess and the children in Dubai had been "limitless", with access to more than a dozen luxurious homes, a 400 million pound yacht and a fleet of private planes.</p>

<p>She had an annual budget of more than 83 million pounds for her household in Dubai with another 9 million pounds spending money, the ruling said. Mohammed's lawyer acknowledged to the&nbsp;court&nbsp;he could raise 1.25 billion pounds in cash within three months.</p>

<p>"I remind myself that money was no object during the marriage," Moor said in approving Haya's claim for 1.9 million pounds to be spent on a kitchen extension, pizza oven and kitchen curtains at her&nbsp;London&nbsp;home.</p>

<p>Moor said he would not give "carte blanche" to Haya's financial claims, but would consider her demands "with a very clear eye to the exceptional circumstances of this case, such as the truly opulent and unprecedented standard of living enjoyed by these parties in Dubai".</p>

<p>Haya told the&nbsp;court&nbsp;it was not excessive for her to ask for millions to pay for five housekeepers, clothing, upkeep of her two mansions, one estimated to be worth about 100 million pounds, and regular holidays.</p>

<p>Her jewellery, in total valued at some 20 million pounds, would fill the&nbsp;courtroom if spread out, she said.</p>

<p>Moor ordered Mohammed to pay her 1 million pounds for missing haute couture garments which she said had disappeared and 5 million to cover nine weeks of vacations for her and family members every year.</p>

<p>"She is not, in the context of this case, wealthy," her lawyer, Cusworth, said. The ruling said she had been forced to sell 15.6 million pounds of assets - including horses worth 10 million and 2.1 million pounds worth of jewellery - to make ends meet while she waited for the final settlement.</p>

<p>He said her demands should be seen in the context that Mohammed had a 2 million pound bill for buying strawberries one summer for his country estate, northeast of&nbsp;London.</p>

<p>However, the sheikh's lawyer, Dyer, described many of Haya's claims as "absurd" or "ridiculous", and said they were totally at odds with her stated desire for her children to lead a normal life.</p>

<p>He said the judge's ruling was likely to be "the largest financial remedy award certainly ever ordered and I imagine ever made by a family&nbsp;court".</p>

<p>The previous largest sum ever thought to have been ordered by a British&nbsp;court&nbsp;was the 453.6 million pounds that Russian billionaire Farkad Akhmedov was instructed to pay for his 2016 divorce settlement.</p>

<p>Mohammed, 72, had offered to pay regular maintenance sums of 10 million pounds a year, and provide a 500 million pound guarantee which Dyer said would "hang like a sword of Damocles" over his head and that of his family.</p>

<p>In his conclusion, Moor said he found Haya's evidence to be "palpably honest".</p>

<p>To Mohammed, the princess's lawyer Cusworth said, "the actual value of money is very different to any normal mortal involved in this case or any litigant who normally comes before this&nbsp;court".</p>


Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been ordered by the High Court in London to provide a British record of more than 554 million pounds ($733 million) to settle a custody battle with his ex-wife over their two children.

Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been ordered by the High Court in London to provide a British record of more than 554 million pounds ($733 million) to settle a custody battle with his ex-wife over their two children. The bulk of the massive award to Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, half-sister of Jordan's King Abdullah, and the couple's two children, is to ensure their lifetime security, not least to address the "grave risk" posed to them by the sheikh himself, said the judge, Philip Moor. The judge said: "She is not asking for an award for herself other than for security" and to compensate her for the possessions she lost as a result of the marital breakdown. He directed Mohammed to make a one-off payment of 251.5 million pounds within three months to Haya for the upkeep of her British mansions, to cover the money she said she was owed for jewellery and racehorses, and for her future security costs. The sheikh, who is vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, was also told to provide 3 million pounds towards the education of Jalila, 14, and Zayed, 9, and 9.6 million pounds in arrears. He was also asked to pay 11.2 million pounds a year for the children's maintenance, and for their security when they become adults. These payments will be guaranteed via a 290 million pound security held by HSBC bank. The final sum, despite being believed by some London lawyers to be the largest public award ever ordered by an English family court, is less than half of the 1.4 billion pounds that Haya had originally sought. During almost seven hours of testimony, Haya, 47, said a large one-off payment would allow for a clean break and remove the sheikh's hold over her and their children. "I really want to be free and I want them to be free," she told the court. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the sheikh said he "has always ensured that his children are provided for" and asked for the media to respect their privacy. A lawyer for Haya did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The settlement is the latest development in a legal saga that began when the princess fled to Britain in April 2019, fearing for her safety after she began an affair with one of her bodyguards, and a month after she had asked the sheikh for a divorce. Later that year, the London court ruled Mohammed had carried out a campaign of threats and intimidation that made her fear for her life, and that he had also previously abducted and mistreated two of his daughters by another marriage. Earlier this year, the President of the Family Division in England and Wales, a senior judge, also determined that Mohammed had ordered the phones of Haya and her lawyers, one of whom is a parliamentary lawmaker, to be hacked using the sophisticated "Pegasus" state security software. Haya had not asked for any divorce settlement. She did not offer an explanation, but her lawyers said she would have been entitled to seek billions as the ex-wife of one of the world's richest men. "The mother's financial claims, and the size of the relief that's being sought, are quite unprecedented," the sheikh's lawyer, Nigel Dyer, told the court during hearings which could not be reported until Tuesday. He said her demands were excessive and she was really claiming for herself under the guise of her children. He also accused the princess of misusing the children's funds, saying that she had paid out 6.7 million pounds to blackmailers, who were part of her security team, to keep an affair quiet. The court did not hear from the alleged blackmailers. Haya said she used money from the children's accounts because she was frightened. THE 70 MILLION POUND COURT FIGHT Haya's lawyer, Nicholas Cusworth, said legal fees over two and a half years had reached more than 70 million pounds, adding "the true extent of the colossal sums spent by (Mohammed) will never be known". The bulk of Haya's financial award will go on security, according to the details of the settlement. This was to keep the children safe from being abducted by their own father, the ruling said, including cash for a fleet of armoured cars which would be replaced every few years. Moor said Haya and her children needed the extensive provision to protect them from the sheikh, as well as because of their royal status. "Absolutely uniquely, the main threat they face is from (the sheikh) himself not from outside sources," Moor said. "There will remain a clear and ever present risk to (Haya) for the remainder of her life, whether it be from (Mohammed) or just from the normal terrorist," he said, referring to security threats faced by someone in Haya's position. Such were the concerns that Haya's head of security - known only as 'Director 1' - had to be brought into the courtroom to give evidence about her security needs with the windows blacked out, shielded with a curtain from all except Moor and two lawyers, and his name handed to the judge on a piece of paper. LIMITLESS MONEY Haya's lawyers told the judge the money available to the princess and the children in Dubai had been "limitless", with access to more than a dozen luxurious homes, a 400 million pound yacht and a fleet of private planes. She had an annual budget of more than 83 million pounds for her household in Dubai with another 9 million pounds spending money, the ruling said. Mohammed's lawyer acknowledged to the court he could raise 1.25 billion pounds in cash within three months. "I remind myself that money was no object during the marriage," Moor said in approving Haya's claim for 1.9 million pounds to be spent on a kitchen extension, pizza oven and kitchen curtains at her London home. Moor said he would not give "carte blanche" to Haya's financial claims, but would consider her demands "with a very clear eye to the exceptional circumstances of this case, such as the truly opulent and unprecedented standard of living enjoyed by these parties in Dubai". Haya told the court it was not excessive for her to ask for millions to pay for five housekeepers, clothing, upkeep of her two mansions, one estimated to be worth about 100 million pounds, and regular holidays. Her jewellery, in total valued at some 20 million pounds, would fill the courtroom if spread out, she said. Moor ordered Mohammed to pay her 1 million pounds for missing haute couture garments which she said had disappeared and 5 million to cover nine weeks of vacations for her and family members every year. "She is not, in the context of this case, wealthy," her lawyer, Cusworth, said. The ruling said she had been forced to sell 15.6 million pounds of assets - including horses worth 10 million and 2.1 million pounds worth of jewellery - to make ends meet while she waited for the final settlement. He said her demands should be seen in the context that Mohammed had a 2 million pound bill for buying strawberries one summer for his country estate, northeast of London. However, the sheikh's lawyer, Dyer, described many of Haya's claims as "absurd" or "ridiculous", and said they were totally at odds with her stated desire for her children to lead a normal life. He said the judge's ruling was likely to be "the largest financial remedy award certainly ever ordered and I imagine ever made by a family court". The previous largest sum ever thought to have been ordered by a British court was the 453.6 million pounds that Russian billionaire Farkad Akhmedov was instructed to pay for his 2016 divorce settlement. Mohammed, 72, had offered to pay regular maintenance sums of 10 million pounds a year, and provide a 500 million pound guarantee which Dyer said would "hang like a sword of Damocles" over his head and that of his family. In his conclusion, Moor said he found Haya's evidence to be "palpably honest". To Mohammed, the princess's lawyer Cusworth said, "the actual value of money is very different to any normal mortal involved in this case or any litigant who normally comes before this court".

Dubai princess wins £554 million from sheikh in UK settlement

<p>Campaigners have voiced concern after former UN human rights chief Mary Robinson said a princess who tried to flee the United Arab Emirates was "clearly troubled".</p>

<p>Robinson met with Sheikha Latifa, the daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, for lunch in the UAE earlier this month and the authorities there released pictures of the meeting this week.</p>

<p>Latifa has not been seen in public since she was allegedly captured at sea off India in March as she tried to escape after recording a YouTube video in which she criticised her father and the restrictions she lived under.</p>

<p>Robinson, a former president of Ireland, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday that Latifa was suffering from "a serious medical situation" and was receiving psychiatric care without giving further details about her condition.</p>

<p>"Was she like that before attempting to escape her gilded prison or only after the UAE forcibly returned her there?" Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, asked on Twitter.</p>

<p>"The only certain thing is that a quick lunch won't provide the answer," he wrote.</p>

<p>Radha Stirling, head of the campaign group Detained in Dubai, said Robinson "appeared to be reciting almost verbatim from Dubai's script".</p>

<p>Stirling said that Robinson's comments "reveal nothing concrete about Latifa's condition and serve only to promote Dubai's attempt to avoid any serious enquiry".</p>

<p>"We are very happy that Latifa is alive but are cognizant of the fact that she herself said that she would rather die than be returned to her father's custody and thus continue to have grave concerns about her welfare," Stirling said.</p>

<p>Accounts by people involved in Latifa's escape attempt said that she fled first to Oman, before boarding a yacht which was surrounded by the Indian navy and then towed back to the UAE.</p>

<p>A source close to the Dubai government told AFP in April the princess had been "brought back" to Dubai.</p>


Robinson met with Sheikha Latifa, the daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, for lunch in the UAE earlier this month and the authorities there released pictures of the meeting this week.

Campaigners have voiced concern after former UN human rights chief Mary Robinson said a princess who tried to flee the United Arab Emirates was "clearly troubled". Robinson met with Sheikha Latifa, the daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, for lunch in the UAE earlier this month and the authorities there released pictures of the meeting this week. Latifa has not been seen in public since she was allegedly captured at sea off India in March as she tried to escape after recording a YouTube video in which she criticised her father and the restrictions she lived under. Robinson, a former president of Ireland, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday that Latifa was suffering from "a serious medical situation" and was receiving psychiatric care without giving further details about her condition. "Was she like that before attempting to escape her gilded prison or only after the UAE forcibly returned her there?" Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, asked on Twitter. "The only certain thing is that a quick lunch won't provide the answer," he wrote. Radha Stirling, head of the campaign group Detained in Dubai, said Robinson "appeared to be reciting almost verbatim from Dubai's script". Stirling said that Robinson's comments "reveal nothing concrete about Latifa's condition and serve only to promote Dubai's attempt to avoid any serious enquiry". "We are very happy that Latifa is alive but are cognizant of the fact that she herself said that she would rather die than be returned to her father's custody and thus continue to have grave concerns about her welfare," Stirling said. Accounts by people involved in Latifa's escape attempt said that she fled first to Oman, before boarding a yacht which was surrounded by the Indian navy and then towed back to the UAE. A source close to the Dubai government told AFP in April the princess had been "brought back" to Dubai.

Campaigners voice concerns over Dubai princess

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has demanded United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities to reveal the whereabouts pf Sheikha Latifa bin Mohammad al-Maktoum, the 32-year-old daughter of the ruler of the Dubai and give details about her legal status.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Failure to disclose the whereabouts and status of the princess could qualify as an enforced disappearance, given the evidence suggesting that she was last seen as UAE authorities were detaining her, it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;A source close to the government of Dubai told Reuters that "Latifa is safe and sound with her family" but declined further comment, citing legal considerations.</p>

<p>The UAE has also yet to comment on recent media reports that Sheikha Latifa, a daughter of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, announced in a video that she was fleeing the emirate due to restrictions imposed on her by her family.</p>

<p>As per HRW website, UAE intercepted Latifa on March 4, 2018, when she was attempting to flee to a third country by sea and returned her to the UAE. Sheikha Latifa, who told friends that she wished to flee restrictions imposed by her family, has not been seen or heard from for two months, raising serious concerns about her safety and well-being, two friends said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>HRW quoted two friends of Sheikha Latifa as saying she had not been seen or heard from for two months. "If she is detained she needs to be given the rights all detainees should have, including being taken before an independent judge," it said.</p>

<p>The rights group quoted Finnish national Tiina Jauhiainen, described as a friend of Sheikha Latifa who was one of several foreigners on the boat, as saying the Indian Coast Guard participated in the raid on the vessel in coordination with UAE authorities.</p>

<p>Jauhiainen said that on March 22 UAE authorities allowed her to return to Finland, and they allowed the yacht's owner Herve Jaubert, who holds French and American citizenship, to leave the UAE along with the boat's crew around the same time.</p>


The group, Human Rights Watch, says failure to disclose her status could "qualify as an enforced disappearance

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has demanded United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities to reveal the whereabouts pf Sheikha Latifa bin Mohammad al-Maktoum, the 32-year-old daughter of the ruler of the Dubai and give details about her legal status. Failure to disclose the whereabouts and status of the princess could qualify as an enforced disappearance, given the evidence suggesting that she was last seen as UAE authorities were detaining her, it said. A source close to the government of Dubai told Reuters that "Latifa is safe and sound with her family" but declined further comment, citing legal considerations. The UAE has also yet to comment on recent media reports that Sheikha Latifa, a daughter of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, announced in a video that she was fleeing the emirate due to restrictions imposed on her by her family. As per HRW website, UAE intercepted Latifa on March 4, 2018, when she was attempting to flee to a third country by sea and returned her to the UAE. Sheikha Latifa, who told friends that she wished to flee restrictions imposed by her family, has not been seen or heard from for two months, raising serious concerns about her safety and well-being, two friends said. HRW quoted two friends of Sheikha Latifa as saying she had not been seen or heard from for two months. "If she is detained she needs to be given the rights all detainees should have, including being taken before an independent judge," it said. The rights group quoted Finnish national Tiina Jauhiainen, described as a friend of Sheikha Latifa who was one of several foreigners on the boat, as saying the Indian Coast Guard participated in the raid on the vessel in coordination with UAE authorities. Jauhiainen said that on March 22 UAE authorities allowed her to return to Finland, and they allowed the yacht's owner Herve Jaubert, who holds French and American citizenship, to leave the UAE along with the boat's crew around the same time.

Rights group demands whereabouts of Dubai princess missing for 2 months

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