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Dubai’s runaway princesses
Dubai may have a reputation as an ultramodern place with an indoor ski hill, the tallest building in the world, and beautiful beaches, but for years the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been accused of abusing women — including his own daughters.
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The Sheika Kept Prisoner (with Heidi Blake)
In 2018, Sheika Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai, attempted a daring escape to international waters, away from what she characterized as a dangerous and oppressive life among her family. She was captured and brought back to the United Arab Emirates, and though there have been public statements saying…
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Dark Dubai: Sheiks, Escapes and Runaway Princesses
When the Sheik of Dubai’s daughters tried to escape their father, world powers turned a blind eye. But investigative reporter Heidi Blake was determined to document their plight. Writing for the New Yorker last year, Heidi unraveled the disturbing story of Emirati princesses Latifa and Shamsa, and how Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum crushed…
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The Dubai princesses who risked it all to run away
Sheikha Latifa was born into incredible privilege as the daughter of the leader of Dubai, but she and her sister risked everything to escape years of alleged abuse at the hands of their father. Heidi Blake explores the story in her new podcast The Runaway Princesses.
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“The Runaway Princesses,” a New Yorker Podcast, Exposes the Plight of Dubai’s Royal Women
A four-episode narrative series, from In the Dark, examines why the daughters of the emirate’s ruler have risked their lives to run away.
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Longform Podcast #540: Heidi Blake
Heidi Blake is a writer for The New Yorker and the author of two books. She discusses her latest article, “The Fugitive Princess of Dubai,” with Evan Ratliff on this episode.
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Dubai’s Missing Princesses | Part 4
Princess Haya flees to London and ignites a bitter custody battle with Sheikh Mohammed. The court hearings put the spotlight back on Sheikha Latifa and Sheikha Shamsa’s abductions. But which of these women will end up free?
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Dubai’s Missing Princesses | Part 3
Public outrage over Sheikha Latifa’s disappearance prompts Princess Haya, Sheikh Mohammed’s wife and Jordanian royalty, to get involved. But Haya has secrets herself, and before long, her own relationship with Sheikh Mohammed takes a dark turn.
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Dubai’s Missing Princesses | Part 2
Sheikha Latifa, one of Sheikh Mohammed’s daughters and Shamsa’s sister, escapes on a yacht with the help of her capoeira instructor and an alleged former French spy. When their boat is suddenly ambushed by Indian Special Forces, Latifa’s bid for freedom seems dashed. But she’s recorded a video that could change everything.
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Dubai’s Missing Princesses | Part 1
Sheikh Mohammed is the massively wealthy, seemingly-progressive ruler of Dubai, a glittering tourist destination on the Persian Gulf. But when his daughter, Sheikha Shamsa, runs away from his British estate, it seems that all that glitters is not gold.