«Dear husband, since you are busy with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce.». With these few words, the Princess of Dubai, Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 30 years old, daughter of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced her separation from her husband on Instagramin what is considered a rare move for an Emirati princess.
“I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you”he writes, referring to the Islamic practice known as triple talaq, which allows husbands to divorce their wives by saying “I divorce you.” three times, but rarely used by women. «Take care of yourself. Your ex-wife,” the account reads.
Mahra married Sheikh Mana Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, also a member of Dubai’s ruling family, last year in a glamorous ceremony that was featured in magazines including Harper’s Bazaar Arabia and Grazia. They had a daughter soon after. Photos of her with her husband have been removed from her account, and there are no photos of her on Sheikh Mana’s Instagram account either. Some Instagram users have speculated that his account was hacked. However, both the post and the account remain active more than a day after the divorce was announced.