‘Terrible journey’ for ex-wife
Court restrains Amir from contacting his children

03/24/2022, 8:56 pm

A year-long legal battle between the Emir of Dubai and his sixth wife ends with a verdict in favor of the 72-year-old. He is no longer allowed to directly contact his children. All important decisions are the responsibility of the princess.

The London High Court has banned the Emir of Dubai from having any direct contact with the children of his ex-wife Princess Haja bint al-Hussein. All decisions regarding the children’s medical care and their schooling are the sole responsibility of the 47-year-old princess, ruled by the presiding judge of the chamber responsible for family law. In doing so, he ended years of legal battle between the Amir and his sixth wife.

In his ruling, Judge Andrew MacFarlane again accused the wealthy 72-year-old of harassing and intimidating his wife unprecedented in his time in family court. He also tried to forcefully control other members of his family who would not bow down to his will.

With his decision, he wanted to minimize the “potential for continued harm to children,” the judge said. Accordingly, Sheikh Mohamed, who is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, is only allowed to contact his children indirectly – for example by telephone.

The princess and half-sister of Jordan’s King Abdullah II caused an international sensation in the summer of 2019 when she fled to Great Britain with her two children. When the Emir demanded the return of the now 14-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son to Dubai, Princess Haja applied for custody and protection from assault for herself.

In the first response the princess thanked the court. The past few years have been a “terrible journey”. A spokesman for the emir said that “he loves his children” and “has always looked after them and has looked after them and always will”. The spokesman said Sheikh Mohammed has been denying all allegations arising out of the case.