The daughter of Dubai’s ruler has reportedly announced her divorce on social media, marking a rare public declaration for a princess in the United Arab Emirates. Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, daughter of UAE Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, posted on her Instagram account stating her decision to end her marriage to a fellow royal.
“I hereby declare our divorce,” posted Sheikha Mahra, 30, on her Instagram account. “I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife.”
The princess appeared to be invoking the controversial practice of triple divorce, which is used in some Muslim countries where a man instantly divorces his wife by declaring it three times. This practice is banned in some countries and isn’t customarily invoked by women against their husbands.
Sheikha Mahra married Sheikh Mana Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, also a member of the Dubai ruling family, last year in a glamorous ceremony featured in magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar Arabia and Grazia. They welcomed a daughter shortly after their marriage. However, pictures of Sheikha Mahra with her husband have been removed from her Instagram account, and there are no pictures of her on Sheikh Mana’s Instagram account either.
Known for her visible public and social media presence, Sheikha Mahra often attends red carpet events in Dubai and graces the covers of regional magazines, a departure from the usual practices of female royals. She has nearly half a million followers on Instagram, where she shares about her hobbies, love for horses, charity work, and selfies. Her mother, Zoe Grigorakos, is a Greek national, according to local media reports.
Speculation arose among Instagram users about whether her account had been hacked. However, both the post and her account remain active more than a day since the announcement was made.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Dubai government’s Media Office and Sheikha Mahra’s media office have not yet been successful.
Neither the UAE government nor Sheikha Mahra’s husband, Sheikh Mana, have publicly commented on the Instagram post. Attempts to reach Sheikh Mana for comment through his Instagram account have also been unsuccessful.
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