Dubai Ruler’s Sixth Wife Seeks Forced Marriage Protection Order In London Court

Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, the wife of Dubai's ruler, is seeking forced marriage protection order in a London court. This is a high-profile legal battle between the all-powerful Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Princess Haya, his sixth wife.

Under the British court system, a forced marriage protection order can be implemented to protect the person who has been, or is being, forced into a marriage. The U.K. government's website says the order will be designed to protect the individual concerned according to their distinct circumstances, such as to stop someone from taking the person out of the United Kingdom.

Princess Haya, the daughter of Jordan’s King Hussein, is also seeking, as per reports, for wardenship of their two children, which could place them in the court’s custody for major decisions, and a non-molestation order for herself. However, the 70-year-old billionaire has sought to have the children with him in Dubai. Princess Haya, well known for her proximity to British royals - Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, made an appearance at the family division of the high court in central London court on Tuesday but the sheikh, who is also the vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, wasn’t present.

The court statement said, “these proceedings are concerned with the welfare of the two children of their marriage and do not concern divorce of finances.” It is believed that Princess Haya reportedly left her husband and went to the U.K. with her two children, and is living in a lavish London mansion valued at $107 million.

This high-profile Emirati case has also caught unwanted media attention and has been subjected to heavy reporting restrictions. But, according to CNN, an application by Sheikh Mohammed’s lawyers for further reporting restrictions was rejected by the court. Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the court’s family division, said there is a public interest in the case.

The sheik's daughter, Princess Latifa, tried to flee Dubai last year but was seized off the coast of India by commandoes and was made to return home.