On August 27, 2025, Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, daughter of Dubai’s ruler, announced her engagement to Moroccan-American rapper French Montana.
French Montana proposed during Paris Fashion Week in June 2025, just a year after her high-profile divorce from Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum. This development has captured global attention, blending royalty with the culture of celebrity.
French Montana, whose real name is Karim Kharbouch, proposed to Sheikha Mahra, 31, after walking the runway for the “3. Paradis Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2026” show in Paris. His representative confirmed the engagement to TMZ, though details of the proposal remain private. As of now, no wedding date has been announced. The romantic moment followed the couple’s public appearances together in Dubai since the fall of 2024.
Dubai princess Sheikha Mahra divorces her husband via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/40nZt0yb9O
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 18, 2024Context of Sheikha Mahra’s Divorce
In July 2024, Sheikha Mahra announced her divorce from Sheikh Mana via a scathing Instagram post, stating, “As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I Divorce You. Take care. Your ex-wife.” The post deliberately mimicked the Islamic tradition of “triple repudiation,” a controversial practice allowing men to divorce by declaring it three times, as noted by Brandeis University.
The couple, who were married in a lavish ceremony in April 2023, welcomed a daughter in May 2024. However, their marriage ended just two months later, with Mahra citing her husband’s focus on “other companions.”
#EXCLUSIVE 💍 French Montana Engaged to Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra https://t.co/7eNlGdPet2 pic.twitter.com/DYW4p1iBOL
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 27, 2025Three months after her divorce, Sheikha Mahra, whose family is worth an estimated $18 billion, was spotted with Montana in Dubai, according to Hello Magazine. The couple has since been spotted dining together, enjoying a date themed around camels, and visiting mosques, TMZ reported. Their relationship marks a second marriage for both of them. Montana was previously married to Deen Kharbouch from 2007 to 2014, with whom he shares a son. He also briefly dated Khloé Kardashian in 2014.
Sheikha Mahra’s engagement bridges Dubai’s royal heritage with global pop culture. As the daughter of the UAE Prime Minister and Dubai ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, her actions draw significant attention. Her public divorce post challenged traditional norms, while her engagement to a Grammy-nominated rapper reflects her embrace of a modern, independent identity. This move may spark discussions about the evolution of gender roles in the UAE’s elite circles.
