The daughter of Dubai’s ruler has publicly announced she is divorcing her husband, alluding to “other companions” in their relationship.
On Tuesday, Sheikha Mahra Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum posted to her official Instagram account a letter addressed to her husband that she was ending their marriage.
“Dear Husband,” she began the letter. “As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I Divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife.”
By saying “I divorce you” three times, Sheikha Mahra appears to have invoked the Islamic practice known as triple talaq whereby husbands are allowed to quickly end their marriages, reports the BBC. However, the practice has been banned in many countries.
After the post was made, there were concerns that her account was hacked. However, there are no signs that has occurred.
The princess has received plenty of supportive messages online after making the announcement public.
“I think many people aren’t seeing the value of her saying it three times but it adds power to her statement,” one person wrote in response to the post. “It means she is 1000000% done.”
Another said they found it “empowering when a woman recognizes her worth and confidently stands her ground.”
Others said her happiness should be the top priority.
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Neither her husband nor her father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has issued a statement about the post.
She has since scrubbed all photos of her husband, Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, from Instagram. A review of his Instagram account also shows no photos of the princess.
In May, the couple welcomed their first child and shared the news on Instagram. In June, she uploaded a picture of her cradling the baby and the words, “Just the two of us.”
The couple was married in a lavish ceremony in April 2023.
Sheikha Mahra holds a degree in international relations after attending a British university.