Dubai's Princess Haya and Sheikh Mohammed to have custody battle play out in UK court

After fleeing Dubai and her husband, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein is set to have a custody battle for their daughter play out in UK's High Court.

It's been reported that Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has filed for divorce from his wife of 15 years in the Family Division of the High Court, according to The Telegraph.

The case is set to be heard on July 30 by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division.

Princess Haya is said to be in hiding in the UK and fearing for her life.

The youngest of the 69-year-old Sheikh's six wives, Princess Haya, 45, is the half-sister of Jordan's King Abdullah, who is married to Queen Rania of Jordan.

The royal, who is friends with Prince Charles and Camilla, is said to now be living near Prince William and Kate, in a million-dollar town house in Kensington Palace Gardens, according to the BBC.

The Princess, who is an Olympic equestrian rider, skipped Royal Ascot this year, an event she's attended with her husband many times in the past.

In previous years, the couple have even been seen holding hands trackside and showing mild PDAs just like other married royal couples.

Princess Haya is understood to have left Dubai for Germany last month, having planned to escape since January.

It's reported that's when she learned new information about the disappearance of Sheikha Latifa, 33, one of Sheikh Mohammed's daughters.

In 2018, Latifa escaped the UAE by sea with the help of a Frenchman but was intercepted by armed men off the coast of India and returned to Dubai.

At the time, authorities claimed the princess was "vulnerable to exploitation" and was "now safe in Dubai".

However, in a video recorded before Latifa fled, she claimed to have been held and tortured by her father's regime.

While the battle for custody is likely to remain a private one, there are fears the split could turn into a diplomatic issue with Princess Haya likely to want to remain in the UK while her Dubai ruler husband may demand her return to the United Arab Emirates.

Given the trade ties between the UK and UAE as well as Jordan's ties to the UAE, this could prove a delicate situation beyond the divorce.