Heidi Blake, a New Yorker staff writer, joins Madeleine Baran in the podcast to tell the story of the Dubai ruler's runaway princesses. The podcast explores the luxurious lives of the women in Sheikh Mohammed's family, their attempts to escape, and the astonishing courage and cruelty behind palace walls.
The podcast explores the story of Princess Latifah and the attempts made by women in Sheikh Mohammed's family to escape his control.
The podcast highlights Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum's position as the absolute ruler of Dubai and his vast wealth and influence.
Deep dives
The Runaway Princesses: Escaping Dubai's Royal Family
The podcast explores the story of Princess Latifah, a member of Dubai's royal family, who secretly planned to escape from Dubai using an inflatable dinghy, jet skis, and a yacht. The episode delves into Latifah's video message and the mystery surrounding her whereabouts. It also raises questions about the involvement of her father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, in the alleged abuses and attempts by women in his family to escape his control.
Dubai's Ruling Family and Its Connections
The podcast highlights Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum's position as the absolute ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the UAE. It explores Dubai's transformation from a fishing village to a global city, with its iconic skyline and extravagant projects. The podcast mentions Sheikh Mohammed's vast wealth, connections to world leaders, and his status as a prominent figure in horse racing. It also raises questions about the source of his wealth and the influence he wields.
Investigating Allegations and Power Dynamics
The podcast reveals how allegations of abuse and attempts to seek justice have faced obstacles. It discusses a case involving a woman who accused a member of Dubai's ruling family of rape, which was allegedly halted due to political reasons and the desire to maintain a valuable relationship with Sheikh Mohammed. The episode also features interviews with former employees of Sheikh Mohammed, shedding light on the exploitation of sex workers and attempts by women in his family to escape his control. The podcast emphasizes the power dynamics at play and the rare admission of a police officer about dropping a case for political reasons.
The wives and daughters of Dubai’s ruler live in unbelievable luxury. So why do the women in Sheikh Mohammed’s family keep trying to run away? The New Yorker staff writer Heidi Blake joins In the Dark’s Madeleine Baran to tell the story of the royal women who risked everything to flee the brutality of one of the world’s most powerful men. In four episodes, drawing on thousands of pages of secret correspondence and never-before-heard audio recordings, “The Runaway Princesses” takes listeners behind palace walls, revealing a story of astonishing courage and cruelty.
“The Runaway Princesses” is a four-part narrative series from In the Dark and The New Yorker. To keep listening, follow In the Dark wherever you get your podcasts or via this link https://link.chtbl.com/itd_f