Dubai: Woman from Ruling Family Pleads for Help, Fears Arrest and Loss of Children
A woman from Dubai’s ruling Al Maktoum family is publicly appealing for international assistance, fearing imminent arrest and the potential loss of her two daughters to her ex-husband. The case echoes previous, high-profile disputes involving members of the Dubai royal family and raises concerns about the legal treatment of women and children within the United Arab Emirates.
The woman, identified only as Javadli, alleges her ex-husband, Saeed Al Maktoum, has reported her for taking their daughters without his permission – an act considered illegal in Dubai. She claims she entered into a private agreement with Sheikh mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum,the ruler of Dubai and Saeed’s father,allowing her daughters to remain with her,provided she remain publicly silent about their dispute. This arrangement, brokered out of “love for her children,” is now threatened, and Javadli fears arrest at any time. The case highlights a pattern of alleged control and legal disadvantage faced by women, particularly those in conflict with powerful men from the ruling family.
The situation mirrors the 2019 case of Princess Haya bint al Hussein, an ex-wife of Sheikh Mohammed, who fled to Great Britain and successfully won a custody battle for her children. during that trial, evidence emerged revealing the ruler had used hacking software to spy on his former spouse.
According to David Haigh,a lawyer who has represented several women connected to the ruling family,”Women and their children in Dubai are not treated like human beings,but like personal property.” Haigh, who claims to have been arrested, tortured, and abused in Dubai himself, warns of the potential for Javadli and her daughters to be subjected to similar treatment.
So far, authorities in Dubai and Saeed Al Maktoum have not responded to media inquiries regarding Javadli’s claims. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future disputes involving the Al Maktoum family and further illuminate the challenges faced by women navigating the legal system in Dubai.
