Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Jul 11, 2025

UK urged to intervene after another photo of Princess Latifa emerges

UK urged to intervene after another photo of Princess Latifa emerges

Peter Hain says government must demand proper proof of life of Emirati royal after third image appears on Instagram within days

The UK government has been urged to intervene to find out whether the Emirati royal Princess Latifa has been genuinely freed from house arrest by her father, after a third Instagram photo appeared in as many days purporting to show her in a Dubai shopping mall.

The latest photo showed Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, a daughter of the ruler of Dubai, looking at the camera blankly next to a clairvoyant at a coffee table.

“British ministers must stop dragging their feet over Princess Latifa and demand proper proof of her life and her freedom,” said the former Foreign Office minister Peter Hain. “These photos are very far from that. Why is she not allowed to speak directly to journalists for instance?”

Lord Hain is one of a number of peers who have been pressing the UK to take a more interventionist role to defend Latifa’s right to freedom, including by potentially seizing the assets of her father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. He is the vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is one of the seven emirates.

The sheikh is often described as close to Queen Elizabeth owing to their shared interest in horseracing. The UAE and the UK have close security, trade and political ties, and the Foreign Office has been reluctant to raise issues of human rights in public.

Latifa, 35, has not been seen in public since a failed attempt to flee Dubai in March 2018.

On Saturday, a photo was posted on an Instagram account apparently showing the royal and a friend, Sioned Taylor, on the terrace of an Italian restaurant called Bice Mara, with Dubai’s glittering skyline in the background. The caption reads: “Lovely food at Bice Mare with Latifa earlier.”

An image apparently showing Princess Sheikha Latifa, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with Sioned Taylor.


Earlier last week another picture was posted on the same account, apparently showing the princess sitting at the Mall of the Emirates (MoE) in Dubai, along with Taylor and another woman. The caption read: “Lovely evening at MoE with friends.”

Both photos appeared on the account of Taylor, a Royal Navy veteran, teacher and former court employee.

The third photo included a smiling companion called Fiona Day, who describes herself online as a compassionate intuitive consultant and a psychic medium.

An image apparently showing Sheikha Latifa, Sioned Taylor and another woman.


It may be that the three Instagram posts are part of a gradual process that will lead to Latifa’s full release from detention, or alternatively a PR stunt designed to convince the public her freedom has been at least partially restored.

The UAE ruler is facing a potential civil court action over the princess’s detention, and it is likely that permission to publish the photos was sought.

The UN human rights office has been seeking proof of life from the UAE rulers since February, when Latifa smuggled out a video message saying she was being detained under house arrest in a “villa prison” by her father as a punishment for a previous attempt to escape.

In a statement, David Haigh, a co-founder of the Free Latifa campaign group, said: “We confirm that there have been several potentially significant and positive developments in the campaign. We do not intend to comment further at this stage, a further statement will be issued at the appropriate time.”
Advertisement

After the BBC aired Latifa’s video in February, the UAE’s embassy in London issued a statement saying she was being cared for at home by her family and medical professionals and would return to “public life at the appropriate time”.

On 20 April, the UN described that response as insufficient and said concrete proof of her wellbeing was needed.

Latifa came to international attention in 2018 when a human rights group released a video made by her in which she described her attempt to escape Dubai. She was captured off the coast of India by special forces and taken back to Dubai.

In March 2020, a London high court judge, Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the family division of the high court, said he accepted as proven a series of allegations made by Princess Haya, the former wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, in a legal battle, including that the sheikh ordered the abduction of Latifa. The sheikh’s lawyers rejected the allegations and tried to make the judgement public.

McFarlane ruled that the sheikh had orchestrated the abduction and forced captivity of Latifa and her older sister Shamsa.

Shamsa, then 19, was kidnapped on the orders of her father after fleeing the family’s Longcross estate near Cobham, Surrey, in 2000. She was taken to her father’s 3,300-acre Dalham Hall estate in Suffolk, which includes his celebrated Godolphin racing stables, and by helicopter from the UK. She has not been seen in public since.

Ministers, such as Stephen Parkinson in March, have tried to distance themselves from the controversy, saying the “civil court proceedings were a private matter between two individuals and the UK government have no involvement in it”.

Asked about reports that Latifa was abducted in international waters with the help of Indian special forces, Lord Parkinson said no British shipping or citizens had been involved. He said the UK government had not been in touch with the UN over proof of life requests but awaited to hear the response from the UAE.

The Detained in Dubai campaign group said: “The public is split over where to praise or curse the women who are photographed with Latifa but ultimately, it shows she is out with friends, that there appears to be an intention to return Latifa to the public arena.

“Although we are pleased to see Latifa out and about, we must not forget that she was brought to the United Arab Emirates unlawfully.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×