Zeynab Javadli, the former wife of a member of Dubai’s ruling family, fears arrest after her ex-husband lodged a criminal complaint accusing her of kidnapping their three daughters, escalating a bitter custody battle that has drawn international attention.
Since their divorce in 2019, Zeynab Javadli has been locked in a custody dispute with Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the nephew of Dubai’s ruler. The conflict has intensified in recent weeks, with the children—aged nine, seven, and six—shuttled between parents amid mutual accusations of abduction, bringing the long-standing tensions to a head.
The situation reached a critical point on November 8 when Ms. Javadli arrived at a child protection center for a scheduled visitation and found her daughters not inside the building. As she exited, she encountered them outside, where they rushed to her, pleading, “Mama, take us from here!” She then directed her driver to take them home, but their vehicle was blocked by cars associated with her ex-husband, leading to a tense standoff.
In a desperate bid for assistance, Ms. Javadli livestreamed the incident, calling for public intervention. She acknowledged that this action breached a 2022 agreement with UAE authorities, which prohibited her from engaging with media or livestreaming in exchange for custody assurances. Now, she faces potential arrest for e-crimes and remains confined to her Dubai home with the children, too afraid to venture outside.
Ms. Javadli asserts that under the 2022 deal, brokered with Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, she was guaranteed custody of the children until they turn 18, along with housing and other support. In return, she signed documents committing to silence on her case, though a subsequent court ruling granted custody to Sheikh Saeed, with assurances that the ruler’s arrangement would remain intact.
The stability of this agreement unraveled two months ago when, during a routine visitation, Sheikh Saeed communicated through Dubai police that the children would not be returned. Ms. Javadli heard nothing for several weeks until she was granted a brief visitation, which culminated in the November 8 confrontation. Since then, she has kept the children at home, and they have not attended school, exacerbating concerns over their well-being.
Court depositions from Sheikh Saeed present a starkly different account, alleging that Ms. Javadli forcibly placed the children in her car and kidnapped them. His legal representatives have previously claimed she is an unfit mother, pointing to alleged failures in education and unsuitable living conditions, accusations that Ms. Javadli and her Emirati legal team vehemently deny, submitting evidence to counter these claims.
This case echoes other high-profile disputes involving women connected to Dubai’s royal family, such as Princess Haya, who fled the UAE in 2019 and secured sole custody in UK courts, and Princess Latifa, who attempted an escape in 2018. These instances highlight ongoing challenges related to women’s rights and familial control in the region, despite Dubai’s modern exterior.
Ms. Javadli and her British lawyer, David Haigh, argue that while Dubai promotes an image of advancing women’s rights, her ordeal reveals a more complex and often oppressive reality for some. As the legal battle continues with no immediate resolution, she remains in a precarious position, underscoring the profound personal impacts of international custody conflicts and raising questions about justice and accountability.
