Dubai ruler abused his ex- wife to an ‘exorbitant degree'

THE ruler of Dubai subjected his ex-wife to “sustained” abuse on an unprecedented scale, a High Court judge ruled yesterday.

- Jess Glass

Sir Andrew McFarlane said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had abused Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein to an “exorbitant degree”.

He said the abuse was “conducted on a scale which is entirely outside the ordinary circumstances of cases heard in the family court”.

His findings came in a ruling at the end of a lengthy legal battle between the couple over their two children.

Controlling

Sir Andrew said the sheikh, 72, had consistently displayed “coercive and controlling behaviour”. He added the abuse suffered by Haya, 47, was likely to have had “a profound impact upon every aspect of her day-to-day life”.

He added: “It will have totally dominated her thoughts, taken away her peace of mind and removed from her any sense of autonomy.”