From Enduring Union with Hind to Public Battle with Haya: The Diverse Romantic History of HH Sheikh Mohammed

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has led a life marked by significant public achievements and a complex private romantic history. His relationships, spanning decades, reflect a blend of traditional royal unions and modern-era challenges, often playing out under the intense scrutiny of global media. While publicly known for his leadership in transforming Dubai, his personal life, particularly his marriages and the dynamics within his family, has also drawn considerable attention.

Sheikh Mohammed has been married to at least eleven women over the years, though details on many of these unions remain private. As of 2023, he is reportedly divorced from all his wives except his first, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum. His romantic journey began in the early 1970s, preceding his rise to global prominence, and has continued to evolve, encompassing both enduring partnerships and highly publicized separations.

Early Relationships and Family Beginnings

One of Sheikh Mohammed's earliest known marriages was to Randa bint Mohammed Al-Banna in 1972. This union resulted in the birth of their daughter, Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, in 1977. The marriage eventually ended in divorce, and reports suggest a challenging period for Al-Banna, who, according to interviews, faced significant obstacles in maintaining contact with her daughter following the separation. This highly private aspect of his early family life became public years later, particularly in the context of other family controversies.

Following this, Sheikh Mohammed entered into unions with other women who became mothers to several of his children. From his marriage to Delila Aloula, he had three daughters: Sheikha Dalal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (I), and Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (I). Similarly, Houria Ahmed Lamara bore him five children: Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (II), Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, and Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. The details of these relationships and their conclusions have largely remained out of the public eye, adhering to the traditional privacy often observed within royal families in the region.

An additional son, Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, was born in 1981 from a union with another former wife whose identity is not widely publicized. These early relationships laid the foundation for Sheikh Mohammed's large family, which now includes at least 26 children, many of whom hold prominent positions in Dubai and the UAE.

The Enduring Union with Sheikha Hind

In 1979, Sheikh Mohammed married his first cousin, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum. This marriage has been the most enduring and central to his family life. Sheikha Hind, often referred to as the senior wife and consort, is the mother of twelve of his children, including the current Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Their wedding was a lavish affair, reportedly costing a significant sum and setting a record for its scale at the time, showcasing the family's prominence and wealth.

Sheikha Hind maintains a very private public profile, in line with traditional Emirati customs for royal women. Despite her discretion, she is widely respected and celebrated within the UAE for her charitable work, her role in promoting Emirati family values, and her dedication to raising her children. Recent reports, including one from January 2025, highlighted Sheikh Mohammed's public tribute to her, calling her his "greatest supporter" and "the soul of Dubai," underscoring the deep respect and affection within their long-standing marriage.

The High-Profile Marriage and Contentious Divorce from Princess Haya

One of Sheikh Mohammed's most internationally scrutinized relationships was his marriage to Princess Haya bint Hussein of Jordan. They married on April 10, 2004, in an intimate ceremony in Amman. Princess Haya, daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, was a highly educated and public figure, known for her equestrian achievements, including representing Jordan in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and her humanitarian work as a UN Messenger of Peace. Their union brought together two prominent royal families and was initially perceived as a modern, high-profile partnership.

Together, Sheikh Mohammed and Princess Haya had two children: Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born December 2, 2007) and Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born January 7, 2012). For many years, they presented a united front, frequently appearing together at major international events, particularly horse racing meets, where their shared passion for equines was evident. Princess Haya's public role and engagement were a notable departure from the more traditional privacy of Sheikh Mohammed's other wives.

The marriage, however, dramatically unraveled in 2019 when Princess Haya fled Dubai with her two children, seeking refuge in the United Kingdom. This led to a highly publicized and contentious legal battle in the British courts, described as one of the most expensive divorce cases in history. Princess Haya expressed fears for her life and the safety of her children, alleging a campaign of intimidation by Sheikh Mohammed. The court proceedings revealed serious accusations, including that Sheikh Mohammed had ordered the abduction of two of his daughters from other marriages, Sheikha Shamsa and Sheikha Latifa (II), and had subjected Princess Haya to threats and harassment.

In March 2020, a UK court ruled that, on the balance of probabilities, Sheikh Mohammed had indeed abducted his daughters and threatened Princess Haya. Further rulings in October 2021 found that his agents had used Pegasus spyware to hack Princess Haya's phone and those of her legal team. The divorce was finalized with a record-breaking settlement of approximately $720 million awarded to Princess Haya in December 2021, primarily for her and her children's security and maintenance. A March 2022 court order mandated that Sheikh Mohammed would have no direct contact with his children by Princess Haya or input into decisions about their lives, citing his coercive and abusive behavior.

More Recent and Public Developments

Among Sheikh Mohammed's other unions was one with Zoe Grigorakos, which resulted in the birth of their daughter, Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, in 1994. While details of this relationship are scarce, Sheikha Mahra has become a public figure in her own right, with her recent romantic life garnering significant media attention. Sheikha Mahra married His Highness Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum in 2023. Their engagement was announced in March 2023, followed by a Katb Al-Kitab (marriage contract) in May 2023 and a lavish wedding reception in June 2023. The couple publicly shared their journey, including the announcement of their pregnancy in October 2023 and the birth of their daughter, also named Mahra, in May 2024.

However, this seemingly fairytale romance took an unexpected turn when Sheikha Mahra publicly announced her divorce from Sheikh Mana on Instagram on July 16, 2024. Her post, directly addressing her husband, stated, "Dear Husband, As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you. I divorce, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife." This public declaration, accompanied by the removal of their shared photos from her social media, marked a swift and very public end to a relationship that had been openly celebrated just months prior.

Another former wife, Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna, had one daughter with Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikha Haya bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, born in 2000. Like many of his other past relationships, this union remained largely out of the public eye.

Conclusion

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's romantic history is a tapestry woven with threads of tradition, public duty, enduring partnerships, and highly publicized personal struggles. From his long-standing and private marriage to Sheikha Hind to the globally reported legal battles with Princess Haya, and the recent public divorce of his daughter Sheikha Mahra, his family life has been a subject of both admiration and controversy. These relationships, while deeply personal, often reflect the complexities of balancing royal expectations with individual desires in the modern era, continuously shaping the narrative around one of the world's most influential leaders.