Dubai Ruler's Ex-Wife Wins 733 Million Dollars In Custody Battle

Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum was ordered by the High Court in London to give over $733 million in a custody battle with his ex-wife over their two children.

The Judge of High Court Philip Moor said that the massive amount to the ex-wife, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein and the couple's children is to ensure that they are secured for life. He also noted that the family is facing 'grave risk' at the hands of the sheikh himself.

Dubai Ruler Ex-Wife Wins Custody Battle:

The Judge said, "She is not asking for an award for herself other than for security". The compensation was rewarded to Princess Haya by the court for what she lost after the marital breakdown. Mohammad Bin Rashid al-Maktoum has been ordered by the court to first fulfill a one-off payment of 251.5 million pounds within the coming three months to Princess Haya for the money she was owed for racehorses, jewellery and her future security costs.

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For the children's education, the sheikh has been asked to provide three million pounds. The divorced couple has two children together, Zayed,9 and Jalila, 14. Apart from that nine million pounds have to be paid by the sheikh. He is the Prime Minister and Vice President of United Arab Emirates. The court asked him to pay 11.2 million pounds every year for the maintenance of the children and for security reasons when they grow up.

The final sum of 554 million pounds is reported to be largest public award ever ordered by an English family court. However, Princess Haya had sought for 1.4 billion pounds in settlements. As per reports, she gave her testimony for seven hours in court and asked the court to allow a one-off payment so that she gets a final break from the sheikh.

In the court, she said, "I really want to be free and I want them to be free."

The Princess fled from Dubai and reached Britain in April 2019 fearing for her safety. According to reports, she had asked the sheikh for a divorce and had started an affair with one of her bodyguards. The London court had ruled in her favour earlier as it noted that the sheikh had threatened her and made her fear for her life. The Dubai ruler is also accused of abducting and mistreating his two daughters from another marriage.

As per the court, Haya and her lawyers' phones were hacked by the orders of the sheikh using the "Pegasus" state security software.