At Home, But ‘At Home’? UAE Releases Photos Of Runaway Princess, Reveals She Is ‘With’ Her Family

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has released photos of the runaway princess, Sheikha Latifa for the first time since her attempt to escape months ago, the Deccan Chronicle reports.

The photo of the daughter of ruler of Dubai and UAE PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, confirms she is at home with her family. Sheikha Latifa had not been seen publicly since her attempted escape from the country, and her alleged capture at sea in March.

Various rights groups had urged public revelation of her whereabouts. The state-run WAM news agency thereupon reported a statement released by the foreign ministry. "At the request of the family, on 15th December 2018, Mary Robinson... met with Her Highness Sheikha Latifa in Dubai," the statement said.

The photos reveal her to be at home along with her family and the former Irish PM Mary Robinson. While it was not possible to confirm details of the meeting, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was reassured that the princess had been receiving required care and support.

In a YouTube video in March, Sheikha Latifa announced that she was fleeing the UAE because of the restrictions imposed on the Royal family of Dubai. Various accounts from people who were involved in the failed escape attempt say that she had first fled to Oman.

She then boarded a yacht surrounded by Indian Navy, which was later towed back to UAE. A UK-based advocacy group, which was detained in Dubai, had taken up the case of her disappearance and then alerted the UN rights commission.

After delivering the statement to the UN Human Rights Commissioner, the UAE in its statement on Monday (24 December) "rebuts false allegations and provided evidence that Her Highness Sheikha Latifa was at home and living with her family in Dubai."