There are new questions about the welfare of an Arabian princess who tried to escape her father's regime earlier this year, after photos emerged of her meeting the former United Nations human rights chief.

Key points: Mary Robinson told the BBC Sheikha Latifa was "a troubled young woman who has a serious medical situation" and was "receiving psychiatric care"

Mary Robinson told the BBC Sheikha Latifa was "a troubled young woman who has a serious medical situation" and was "receiving psychiatric care" Sheikha Latifa claimed to have been held and tortured by her father's regime in a video recorded before her escape attempt

Sheikha Latifa claimed to have been held and tortured by her father's regime in a video recorded before her escape attempt Human rights groups are demanding an international investigation into the case

Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum II reportedly fled Dubai in February, with a daring plan to meet a private yacht in international waters and sail to India.

But armed men took her off the boat when it neared the Indian coast.

She had not been seen since, until former United Nations human rights chief, Mary Robinson, had lunch with her and her family in Dubai two weeks ago.

Ms Robinson told the BBC she had written to the UN about the visit, which she made at the request of Dubai's royal family.

"I think you have to bear in mind that this is a troubled young woman who has a serious medical situation," she said.

"She's receiving psychiatric care. They don't want her to receive any more publicity, and that was the dilemma."

Human rights groups said they were grateful for proof the princess is alive. ( United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation via AP )

The United Arab Emirates Government released photos of the meeting and a statement saying they rebutted false allegations made about the treatment of the princess.

Human rights groups, which have been campaigning on Latifa Al Maktoum's behalf, said they were grateful for proof the princess is alive.

But Radha Stirling, who runs the group Detained in Dubai, said Ms Robinson circumvented United Nations protocols and an active investigation into Sheikha Latifa's disappearance.

"It looks like the UAE wanted to use her to give assurances to the public that Latifa is in fact safe and alive and in the loving care of her family," Ms Stirling said.

"But what we know, from what Latifa said in her video, is that there is no possibility for her to be in the safe, loving care of her family when she has described them as having tortured and abused her, and jailed her."

Life of privilege 'a prison'

The 33-year-old daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was promoted as Dubai's "daredevil princess" — a patriotic skydiving instructor with an interest in martial arts.

But in a video she released early this year, Sheikha Latifa claimed her life of privilege was actually one of imprisonment that she was determined to be free from.

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Sheikha Latifa was aided in her escape attempt by a former French spy, Herve Jaubert.

In a BBC documentary aired this month, Mr Jaubert said armed men — allegedly Indian commandos and members of Dubai's state security service — boarded the boat, attacked the crew, and took Sheikha Latifa away.

"Before they dragged Latifa out of the boat she was screaming and yelling," he said.

"She claimed political asylum and she said she preferred to be killed on the boat rather than going back to Dubai. That's a powerful statement."

Calls for the West to step up

Instead of satisfying critics, the release of the photos and the statement from the United Arab Emirates has instead triggered fresh calls for further investigation of Sheikha Latifa's case.

Human rights groups have published copies of what they claim is Sheikha Latifa's passport. ( Supplied: Escape from Dubai )

The high-profile example, with its grave alleged breaches of international law, is just one of many such cases in the United Arab Emirates.

Human rights lawyer Toby Cadman said many countries in the Middle East have been allowed to flout human rights standards because of a lack of pressure and enforcement from Western nations.

"I think there needs to be a huge amount of pressure on countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia.

"If we look at the Khashoggi case as well, of course Western states need to put human rights at the top of the agenda, whereas presently it is at the bottom of the agenda and trade comes first."