I'm taking the sheik: Wives are not allowed to talk to the media, disclose details about privacy or publish photographs
He is not a sheik like a sultan, and certainly not like a king, even though in the imagination of many they merge into one exotic figure surrounded by wealth, desert, and harem.
Even though many women in Central Europe ask themselves what it would be like to marry a sheikh, reality shows that this isn't a common scenario. An Arabian palace might exist, but it's definitely not without risks.
Natasha from Azerbaijan: From a waitress to billionaire's wife
Natasha is from Azerbaijan, but she worked as a regular waitress in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Her life changed the moment a mysterious man with bodyguards entered her café. It was Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum – the nephew of the ruler of Dubai. His interest in young and naturally beautiful Natasha was not just a temporary whim. After several meetings, which initially seemed friendly, they began to meet regularly. Natasha didn't know who he really was – she found out later.
Their relationship was developing quickly. The Sheikh offered her to move to Dubai, promising to take care of her. After formal agreements with the family and overcoming cultural differences, Natasha became his second wife. Islamic law allows a man to have up to four wives if he can care for all equally.
Natasha was blinded by luxury - she wore haute couture dresses, drove a Bentley, and lived in a palace. But as she admitted in a later interview, behind the dazzling glitter there was loneliness, limited freedom and silence, in which she could not freely express what she felt. Her contact with the family was limited, she was not allowed to move around the city without permission and escort, and every decision - even clothing - went through an invisible filter of rules and expectations.
According to available information, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum has assets worth around 16 billion dollars. Their story has been published and has been the subject of several reports and videos on YouTube. According to available sources, Natasha now lives between Dubai and Europe and her life is much more closed off than many would imagine.
Jelena Jakovljevič: Beauty queen from a village, princess in the Emirates
Jelena Jakovljevič comes from a small village in Serbia. Her path to the royal family led through a beauty contest - she became Miss and thanks to that she got to several international events. At one such event, she was noticed by an Arab Sheikh - a man of power, title, and wealth - Said bin Drai. Unlike Natasha, Jelena knew fairly early on who she was dealing with, but still decided to go into the relationship.
Their romance surprised even the media – the Western public perceived this relationship as a modern fairy tale at that time.
Their wedding was grandiose and according to available information, it lasted for three days, featuring world-famous artists like Whitney Houston, Enrique Iglesias, and Christina Aguilera. It is estimated that the wedding costs amounted to approximately 30 million dollars.
After the wedding, Jelena adopted the name Jelena Bin Drai and moved to Dubai, where she established her own fashion brand and a luxury wellness chain. Her entrepreneurial activities brought her recognition, including nominations for the "Best Middle Eastern Businesswoman" award in 2013 and 2014. She has three children with her husband and devotes herself to family life and business.
Their marriage is perceived as harmonious and stable. Jelena openly talks about the challenges and joys of life in a multicultural environment.
Prewedding traditions and protocol
The relationship with a Sheikh means entering a world where everything is decided in advance and according to strict rules. The pre-wedding period doesn't mean dates and candlelit dinners, but rather negotiations between families, vetting the bride's past, sometimes even converting to Islam. Most marriages are officially registered in elitist or Saudi ledgers only after fulfilling certain conditions. The woman may be asked to wear traditional clothing, not discuss her past publicly, and is often bound by secrecy. Most Arab Sheikhs require their wife to become a Muslim. Acceptance of Islam is not just a formal act - it means respecting religious principles, wearing veiled clothing in public, observing fasts, and other customs that may be unusual for European women. In some cases, the woman is part of a "harem", which means that she is not the only wife and must live by the rules of polygamy.
What does a wedding look like?
A wedding with a sheikh is usually pompous, grandiose and expensive.
It takes place in a palace or a luxury hotel, where the male and female parts of guests are separated. The woman becomes not only a wife, but also a representative of the family. She usually wears custom-made clothing, decorated with gold, and jewelry that would suffice for opening a small jewelry store.
The wives of sheikhs must look representative. Although their faces are often unknown to the public, they are expected to maintain a youthful appearance, beauty, and elegance in the family and in society. Many women resort to aesthetic adjustments or surgical procedures. Some establish their own cosmetic brands, like Jelena bin Drai, but always in an acceptable framework and with the support of their husband.
Luxury in exchange for freedom
Although for many women the idea of life alongside a sheikh may be appealing, reality has its own rules. Life with a sheikh is strictly private. Wives are not allowed to speak to the media, publish private information, photos or opinions that could cast a shadow over their husband's authority. An exception are women who have found their own field of activity, such as the mentioned Jelena bin Drai, but she also operates exclusively within culturally acceptable boundaries - fashion, beauty or children's projects.
Marriage to an Arab Sheikh can often be legally complicated. According to Islamic law, children belong to the father and it is very difficult for the mother to regain them. Famous cases, such as the story of Princess Haya or Latifa, show that even very privileged women can lose contact with their children if they encounter the will of a more powerful man.
In practice, this means that despite the outward gloss, expensive dresses, golden palaces, and private jet travels, life alongside a Sheikh can be a trade-off of freedom for luxury. Even though it is more flexible in modern emirates, many women describe life with a Sheikh as lonely. Their contact with the original family is usually limited, visits are monitored, especially in more conservative families. Children are raised according to Islamic values and their daily routine is determined by the man or his family.
The truth is, not every story has a happy ending. Sheikhs live in a regime where a woman has to adapt - not the other way around. Their world is a world of separate genders, strict prohibitions and norms. A woman is not allowed to take her children without her husband's consent, she is not allowed to travel without his permission, and in many cases her life turns into a luxurious but closed cage.
The Dark Side of Stories: Sheikh Muhammad and his wives
The most famous example revealing the shadowy sides of these fairy-tale relationships is the ruler of Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He has been building the modern image of the emirate in the public eye for many years, but tragedies are taking place behind closed doors.
In May 2019, Princess Haya fled Dubai for the United Kingdom with her two children, Sheikha Jalila and Sheikh Zayed. She claimed that she feared for her life after learning that Sheikh Mohammed had previously kidnapped two of his daughters, Sheikha Latifa and Sheikha Shamsa, and forced them back to Dubai against their will.
Upon arriving in the United Kingdom, Princess Haya filed for divorce and initiated a legal battle for custody of the children. In December 2021, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Sheikh Mohammed must pay Princess Haya a record amount of £554 million (about $730 million), which is the largest divorce settlement in the history of British law.
The court also found that Sheikh Mohammed was using Pegasus spyware to monitor Princess Haya's and her lawyers' phones, which he considered a form of intimidation.
Currently, Princess Haya lives with her children in the United Kingdom. According to available information, her children were entrusted to her full care and she continues in her charitable activities.
The current life of Sheikh Mohammed
Sheikh Mohammed, even after his divorce from Princess Haya, continues to hold the position of ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. However, his personal life remains under the scrutiny of international media, particularly due to accusations of kidnapping his daughters and spying on his former wife. Despite these controversies, Sheikh Mohammed continues his official duties and is known for his passion for horse racing. His personal fortune is estimated to be approximately 14 billion dollars and owns extensive properties in the United Kingdom. However, his family faces further challenges. In 2024, his daughter Sheikha Mahra announced her divorce via Instagram, which attracted significant media attention.
The story of Sheikh Muhammad and Princess Haya reveals the complexity of life in royal families in the Middle East, where traditions meet modern challenges. While Sheikh Muhammad continues his political career, Princess Haya strives to ensure a peaceful life for herself and her children in the United Kingdom.
The story of women who married sheikhs is full of paradoxes. On one hand, the world offers them wealth, prestige, and a fairy-tale life. On the other hand, they often lose their freedom, voice, and identity. The exchange for a golden cage is not for everyone. And even though some stories may be romantic and inspiring, it's important to see the whole picture - even in the shadow left by the gilding of Arab power.
Source: author's text, brides.com, slavorum.org, zena.blic.rs, khaleejtimes.com, tatler.com, vogue.com, thecut.com, bbc.com, thetimes.com
