The billionaire ruler of in Dubai could be forced to give evidence about his treatment of the daughter who fled his palace in a High Court battle with his estranged wife.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum is set for a courtroom battle with one of his wives, Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, after she allegedly escaped to London with their two children fearing for her safety.

Sources suggest that his treatment of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, his daughter by another wife, will be a key argument in the custody fight.

It has been said that Princess Haya, 45, fled Dubai after discovering details behind the mysterious return of Sheikha Latifa, one of Sheikh Mohammed's 23 children by different wives.

Sheikha Latifa dramatically fled UAE by boat in February 2018, posting a video at the time claiming she had been held as a virtual prisoner in the palace.

She was later intercepted by armed men off the coast of India. She was last seen in December in a video posted by her family.

There has been renewed scrutiny on her case since it emerged that Princess Haya became the third close relative of Sheikh Mohammed’s to leave Dubai in recent years.