Missing Dubai princess re-emerges in video; 'being held hostage'

"I am a hostage and this villa has been converted into a jail," Latifa said in the video, "All the windows are barred shut, I cannot open any window."

She said she was filming the video from a bathroom, the only room she could lock herself into.

She is not allowed to go outside even for fresh air, she said.

"I do not really know if I am going to survive this situation," Latifa said in the video. "The police threatened me that I will be in prison my whole life and I will never see the sun again."

"I do not know what they are planning to do with me," she added, "I just want to be free."

Robinson—who had appeared in photos with Latifa published by Emirati officials after the Sheikha's return to Dubai in 2018—told the BBC that she had been misled by Emirati authorities.

She said Emirati authorities had told her that Latifa was troubled and was safe in her family's care.

"I was particularly tricked when the photographs went public," Robinson said. "That was a total surprise."

In March 2018, Latifa had attempted to flee by boat only to be captured off India. She has not been seen in public since.

Her escape attempt drew international attention to the otherwise carefully controlled image maintained by the family of Sheikh Mohammed.

Last year, a British court had observed that Sheikh Mohammed had ordered the abduction of his daughters Latifa and Shamsa (39).