Interesting article. Absolutely makes my head spin the amount of wealth these people have. I feel very sorry for the children. They’ll never have a normal life.
E: wow redditors really do anything to hate people richer than them. Anything. They’re innocent kids who don’t even realise they’re billionaires. But ok. It’s their fault.
Rulers steel billions from those they rule.
Get divorved
Billions split in a court of law.
Fuck em both.
So what is the now ex-wife’s immigration status? How did she manage to become a refugee but those middle eastern migrants who drowned, didn’t?
I lived in the UAE and have some understanding of the government workings. The fact this case made it to court in the first place is surprising – considering that just as in actual war, in a court case both (presumably sane) parties have to think they have a pretty good shot at winning in order to fight and not settle out-of-court.
**Some pointers on what’s happened:**
* The deal is something of a victory (or at least, damage control) for Sheikh Mohammed – consider Haya wanted far more (something in the region of £1.4 bln)
* The settlement isn’t a huge dent on Sheikh Mohammed’s fortune- it’s more of a haircut than a financial decapitation
* Having said that, the biggest victory would have been to keep out of court in the first place and settle – if the lady wants to leave with the kids, let her leave and save your own reputation
* Sheikh Mohammed’s legal bid was doomed from the start (seeking orders to bring back the kids to Dubai). While anyone could have told him he didn’t stand a chance, people in positions of authority back in their home countries don’t always understand that in a British court, the judge, not you, is king
* Seems like Sheikh Mohammed doesn’t actually *have to pay -* what are they going to do, arrest him if he doesn’t?
​
**Scenarios to watch out for:**
* Sheikh Mohammed pays up, happy end of story. This would be the best way to minimise further reputational damage for all parties
* However, don’t count on Sheikh Mohammed paying up – there isn’t really anyone to make Sheikh Mohammed pay. As a UAE leader, he has diplomatic immunity, as does Princess Haya, as a Jordanian princess. Note also his legal team’s curiously sparse statement, which includes the line: “The court has now made its ruling on finances and he does not intend to comment further.” Note the lawyers’ statement *doesn’t say* that Sheikh Mohammed accepts the rulings of the court.
* Expect either: 1) non-payment and/or 2) a possible extraordinary rendition/kidnap of Sheikh Mohammed’s kids back to the UAE – instigated by the ruler himself. Princess Haya is going to want the best bodyguards she can get – and considering her last bodyguards blackmailed her to the tune of [£7 million,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/21/princess-haya-blackmailed-7m-security-team-paid-keep-quiet-affair/) to keep quiet about her alleged affair with one of them, it doesn’t fill me with confidence over her – or the children’s – security.
* In either event, Princess Haya’s best leverage is revealing embarrassing dirt she can no doubt dish on the Dubai royal family – although the international community might be not crazy interested, the Dubai royal family is incredibly protective of its reputation – making it somewhat their Achilles’ heel. Even if the Sheikh doesn’t pay, Haya has that knife in her drawer.
In essence, given the surprising desire from one party to fight a battle they seemed sure to lose, I doubt we’ve heard the last of this.
Crazy he can’t just behead her. He must think the UK’s really gone to the dogs since King Henry VIII’s reign.
how is this in uk’s jurisdiction?
will UK government freeze his assets till its paid?
“The court heard that before their separation in 2019, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum had provided Haya with £83m a year for her household spending plus an allowance of £9m per annum for herself and various ad hoc payments.”
“Her desire, expressed in court, for the children to live a “normal life” in the UK, was questioned by the sheikh’s lawyer in light of some of the sums claimed.”
I’m sure she very much considers herself in the squeezed middle of Boris’s Britain, and that’s nothing to do with her husband’s multiple wives.
7 comments
Interesting article. Absolutely makes my head spin the amount of wealth these people have. I feel very sorry for the children. They’ll never have a normal life.
E: wow redditors really do anything to hate people richer than them. Anything. They’re innocent kids who don’t even realise they’re billionaires. But ok. It’s their fault.
Rulers steel billions from those they rule.
Get divorved
Billions split in a court of law.
Fuck em both.
So what is the now ex-wife’s immigration status? How did she manage to become a refugee but those middle eastern migrants who drowned, didn’t?
I lived in the UAE and have some understanding of the government workings. The fact this case made it to court in the first place is surprising – considering that just as in actual war, in a court case both (presumably sane) parties have to think they have a pretty good shot at winning in order to fight and not settle out-of-court.
**Some pointers on what’s happened:**
* The deal is something of a victory (or at least, damage control) for Sheikh Mohammed – consider Haya wanted far more (something in the region of £1.4 bln)
* The settlement isn’t a huge dent on Sheikh Mohammed’s fortune- it’s more of a haircut than a financial decapitation
* Having said that, the biggest victory would have been to keep out of court in the first place and settle – if the lady wants to leave with the kids, let her leave and save your own reputation
* Sheikh Mohammed’s legal bid was doomed from the start (seeking orders to bring back the kids to Dubai). While anyone could have told him he didn’t stand a chance, people in positions of authority back in their home countries don’t always understand that in a British court, the judge, not you, is king
* Seems like Sheikh Mohammed doesn’t actually *have to pay -* what are they going to do, arrest him if he doesn’t?
​
**Scenarios to watch out for:**
* Sheikh Mohammed pays up, happy end of story. This would be the best way to minimise further reputational damage for all parties
* However, don’t count on Sheikh Mohammed paying up – there isn’t really anyone to make Sheikh Mohammed pay. As a UAE leader, he has diplomatic immunity, as does Princess Haya, as a Jordanian princess. Note also his legal team’s curiously sparse statement, which includes the line: “The court has now made its ruling on finances and he does not intend to comment further.” Note the lawyers’ statement *doesn’t say* that Sheikh Mohammed accepts the rulings of the court.
* Expect either: 1) non-payment and/or 2) a possible extraordinary rendition/kidnap of Sheikh Mohammed’s kids back to the UAE – instigated by the ruler himself. Princess Haya is going to want the best bodyguards she can get – and considering her last bodyguards blackmailed her to the tune of [£7 million,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/21/princess-haya-blackmailed-7m-security-team-paid-keep-quiet-affair/) to keep quiet about her alleged affair with one of them, it doesn’t fill me with confidence over her – or the children’s – security.
* In either event, Princess Haya’s best leverage is revealing embarrassing dirt she can no doubt dish on the Dubai royal family – although the international community might be not crazy interested, the Dubai royal family is incredibly protective of its reputation – making it somewhat their Achilles’ heel. Even if the Sheikh doesn’t pay, Haya has that knife in her drawer.
In essence, given the surprising desire from one party to fight a battle they seemed sure to lose, I doubt we’ve heard the last of this.
Crazy he can’t just behead her. He must think the UK’s really gone to the dogs since King Henry VIII’s reign.
how is this in uk’s jurisdiction?
will UK government freeze his assets till its paid?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/21/dubai-rulers-divorce-settlement-reveals-truly-opulent-standard-of-living
“The court heard that before their separation in 2019, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum had provided Haya with £83m a year for her household spending plus an allowance of £9m per annum for herself and various ad hoc payments.”
“Her desire, expressed in court, for the children to live a “normal life” in the UK, was questioned by the sheikh’s lawyer in light of some of the sums claimed.”
I’m sure she very much considers herself in the squeezed middle of Boris’s Britain, and that’s nothing to do with her husband’s multiple wives.