Who is Sheikha Mahra? Why did Dubai Princess announce divorce on Instagram? From fairytale romance to heartbreaking separation

Breaking the stringent royal decorum, Sheikha Mahra, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, publicly announced her divorce on Instagram. She announced the end of her marriage in her post by using the Islamic divorce vow, which is usually taken by men. She ended the message with "your ex-wife," even though she addressed her husband as "dear," as per the reports of MSN.

‘Triple Talaq’: Cultural and legal consequences

The triple talaq, a spoken proclamation of divorce, is not generally used by women. A Muslim wife seeking a divorce needs to file a complaint and attend mediation sessions, according to legal expert Hesham El Rafei of the United Arab Emirates. If these don't work, the matter is taken before a judge, who demands evidence of fault. This procedure can take up to a year, in contrast to the expedited, no-fault divorce that Abu Dhabi expats can get.

The pair, who got hitched in April last year, recently celebrated the birth of their first child. Still, Sheikha Mahra suggested a separation when she shared a picture of herself and her daughter online three weeks after the baby was born, writing, "just the two of us." Though public comments regarding personal life are strictly prohibited for Emirati royals and families, this raised the possibility that her account had been hacked.


Political commentator Abdulkhaleq Abdulla pointed out that the Instagram post went against norms in the private Emirati culture as well as royal family conduct. As Sheikha Mahra's mother is viewed as more liberal and is not Emirati, her behavior was seen as marginally more acceptable.

Sheikha Mahra defies taboo

As per the reports of MSN, seven months earlier, Sheikha Mahra defied the taboo against public images of conservative Emirati women, particularly those without headscarves, by landing on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Arabia. Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, her spouse, does not have any pictures of his wife or child on Instagram.

FAQs

What did Sheikha Mahra announce on Instagram?
The daughter of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikha Mahra, breached stringent royal procedure when she publicly announced her divorce on Instagram using a traditional Islamic divorce vow usually used by men.

Why did Sheikha Mahra's Instagram post cause speculation?
Since Emirati royals are prohibited from making public comments about their personal lives, Sheikha Mahra’s Instagram post, which hinted at a separation three weeks after the birth of her child, sparked rumors of account hacking.