Sir Philip Drury Moor, a judge of the High Court of England and Wales, ordered the sheikh to pay at least £540 million ($720 million) to his ex-wife, in what the local press called the highest divorce settlement ever awarded by a British court. Then, in late December 2021, the scandal leapt back in the news. The sheikh denied all allegations, and Haya continued to live quietly in a London mansion with her son and daughter. She also received anonymous notes warning her that “your life is over.” That, together with the discoveries she'd made about the brutal treatment of Shamsa and Latifa after their own escape attempts, she revealed in court, prompted her to flee. On two occasions, Haya says she found a gun on her bed with its muzzle pointed toward the door and the safety lock off. In March 2020 a British family court judge a released a 34-page judgment in Haya's child-custody petition that laid bare the royal family’s dysfunction and her desperation: The findings revealed that Haya had conducted an affair with a male bodyguard in 2017 or 2018 that enraged her husband and prompted him to begin making threats against her. My report into the scandals in the royal court of Dubai remains as relevant and troubling as ever (it appears below). Why were female members of the sheikh’s immediate family making runs for it? And it was spurred, also, by two attempted escapes by the sheikh's daughter Latifa (from another marriage) and, on one still earlier occasion, of her older sister, Shamsa. The article was occasioned by the recent flight of his sixth and youngest wife, Princess Haya, the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and half-sister of King Abdullah, who escaped first to Germany, then London with their two children, now 9-year-old son, Zayed, and 13-year-old daughter, Al Jalila. The common reply is “Marhaban bik”, “Marhaban biki”, and “Marhaban bikum” to a male, female, and more than one person respectively.In late 2019, I wrote a detailed investigation into the flight of several women from the court of Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
To reply to more than one person, say, “Ahlan bikum. The most common reply is “Ahlan bik” to a male or “Ahlan biki” to a female. “Ahlan Wa Sahlan” (welcome) is the more formal version of “Ahlan”. This also depends on the relationship between the people. Traditionally, ladies will only kiss ladies and men kiss men. Put your hands together as you approach them, and kiss them on the cheeks saying “Ahlan”. This can be used for anyone at any time of the day. For non-Muslims, I’d recommend using it with Arabs they know well.If you are greeted this way, the reply is “Wa ‘alaykum as-salaam” meaning, “peace be upon you too.” For Muslims, the greeting expresses their religious identity and is supposed to send the message that the other person is Muslim. You’ll note that the greeting has the same ring as “Muslim”, “ Islam”, and “salaam” all of which have their root in “sallima”––meaning, “to surrender (to the will of God)”.
This will go a long way in terms of politeness. It’s fine to address a group of people, but make sure you give everyone a personal greeting as well.
Here’s is more about how to greet properly in Arabic: Some people here just believe men and women should not greet each other with physical contact. Quick note: if someone of the opposite gender refuses to shake your hand, don’t worry, you didn’t do anything wrong. The right hand is always used, as the left is considered unclean.
So, if you want to be able to reciprocate the hospitality of the good people of Dubai, knowing a little Arabic doesn’t hurt.įor instance, when men greet one another with a handshake, they often come face-to-face to let their noses touch. It’s the Arabic coffee greeting and the offering of rose water. You’ll especially want to know some of the key phrases when you experience the famous “Arab hospitality”.įrom the minute you meet someone until the time you say goodbye, you’ll feel the hospitality here. Having a little bit of Arabic under your belt is a great way to do that.
You’re visiting Dubai and you want to talk the talk and walk the walk.