Princess Haya and her children have been awarded the biggest divorce settlement the UK has ever seen and everyone is talking about it. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has been ordered to pay his ex-wife almost half a billion pounds.
Princess Haya was forced to flee to the UK in 2019 for her safety and the court has shown that on the balance of probabilities, Sheikh Mohammed orchestrated the abduction of his older two children (one was abducted here in the UK), he hacked her phone and that of key people around her including her lawyers during the court case, he attempted to buy an estate next door to where she was living in the UK.
Interestingly, the judge awarded the full payment to be paid up front rather than in periodic payments to prevent further conflict and court hearings. The judge said the threat to the children was ‘clear and ever present’.
You can read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/01/dubais-ruler-battles-wife-in-uk-court-after-she-fled-emirate
A gilded cage
Sometimes we can be envious of those who seem to have it all – maybe not in the extremes of wealth like the Sheikh and his family, but the big house, the pool, the private school can all come at a cost. Only when you realise that you want to leave does it become apparent that these things are not in your name, that you have no independent income, that your ex threatens to stop paying for the lifestyle you have become accustomed to.
I see it so often with clients where they are oblivious to their lack of financial independence and their ex suddenly stops paying for everything, it leaves them so vulnerable. With wealth, often there comes a sense of power too – of being better and more superior to everyone else. For anyone who has those narcissitic traits, the thought of losing it all can lead their behaviour to worsen and they have the power and the money to try and take that control back through using expensive lawyers, repeatedly going to court, bullying and harassing until they get their own way.
No matter how expensive your cage is, a cage is still a cage and poor Princess Haya and her children are going to be living a life where they are constantly’ looking over their shoulder’ for many years to come.
Take control back
Princess Haya must have known it was never going to be easy, separating from someone like her husband. He had 5 other wives before her! Yes, she also had an affair with one of her bodyguards, but can you blame her for wanting to escape what seems to be a very controlling marriage?
Life won’t be simple for her now, but it will be better than before no doubt. I am sure she will be choosing her friends and suporters more carefully from now on and hopefully the Sheikh will have got the message and move on for the sake of his children (though I doubt he will)…
If you are worried about leaving your wealthy ex then get in touch. you can be assured of the upmost confidentiality. Nobody deserves to be abused – they may try and make it difficult for you to leave, but it can be done. Safety is key, so reach out before you do anything to change your situation.
