Missing Dubai Princess Sheikha Latifa mystery as Royal family claim she is alive and well The princess from Dubai tried to escape this year, according to a new documentary, and hasn’t been seen since. What happened?

In February this year, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, the 32 year-old daughter of the ruler of Dubai , escaped a traumatic home life, boarded a boat and set sail for India with the aim of starting over in America. But things didn’t work out as planned – and she hasn’t been seen or heard of since.

But just hours before a documentary – Escape From Dubai: The Mystery Of The Missing Princess – is set to air on BBC two, the Dubai Ruler’s Court released a statement that said she celebrated her 33rd birthday with her family this week and “is deeply saddened by the continued media speculation” regarding her whereabouts. However, we’re yet to hear from al-Maktoum herself to verify this.

The BBC film examines the mystery of the princess al-Maktoum – what conditions at home led her to flee her country and why she hasn’t appeared in public since. The only thing that remains is a 40-minute video she recorded before her escape, saying that if she failed in her mission, she was certain she would be tortured or even worse.

What happened to the princess?

The princess initially reached out to former navy officer and French businessman called Hervé Jaubert in 2011, and told him via email: “I’ve been mistreated and oppressed all of my life. Women are treated like subhumans. My father…can’t continue to do what he’s been doing to us all.”

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Her father is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. In her recorded video, she says that her oppressive home life caused her to run away aged 16, but she was caught at the border, jailed for three years, beaten and tortured. She added that her father was “one of the most evil men in the world”.

What was her escape plan?

After confirming her identity to Jaubert and assuring him it wasn’t a set up, in 2014 she met the Finnish capoeira teacher Tiina Jauhiainen, who came to the palace to give her lessons. Al-Maktoum and Jauhiainen became good friends – and even practised sky-diving together. Together with Jaubert, they began to plan her escape.

Jauhiainen tells the documentary that on the day of their mission in March this year, they drove across the border to Oman, then set out to sea. They then made a 26-mile trip by inflatable boat and jet ski, out to international waters, where Jaubert was waiting in a yacht, where they planned to head to Goa, India.

She said their jet ski ride was treacherous: “The waves were about a metre and a half and we had the wind pushing towards us so it took many hours before we got to the boat.”

But within days, her boat was stormed by 15 masked men in armoured black clothing, brandishing machine guns and lasers before releasing smoke, said Jauhiainen. She was taken by them and hasn’t been seen since.

Where is she now?

“She said she preferred to be killed on the boat rather than going back to Dubai,” Hervé said. “I don’t even know where she is. I have the gravest concern.”

The video that al-Maktoum had made before her escape had been sent to an American lawyer, who released it and put it on Youtube.

In a statement to Sky News, the Dubai Ruler’s Court said: “We are aware and deeply saddened by the continued media speculation regarding Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al Maktoum.

“This private family matter has caused significant upset and distress for all concerned, most of all Sheikha Latifa. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa is now safe in Dubai.”

However, lawyers acting on the princess’s behalf said the statement offered “no explanation” as to why al-Maktoum released the video earlier this year begging for help.

Guernica Chambers has been instructed by the organisation Detained in Dubai to represent Jauhiainen, Jaubert and al-Maktoum in legal proceedings.

In a statement it said: “If it is that Sheikha Latifa is with her family, and that this is a family matter for which she seeks no public concern, then why is she prevented from communicating this publicly, or to any individual that she considers to be a friend?

“The only conclusion that can be drawn is that Sheikha Latifa remains detained against her will.”

Escape from Dubai: The Mystery of the Missing Princess will broadcast on Thursday 6 December at 9pm on BBC Two

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