Dubai may have a reputation as an ultramodern place with an indoor ski hill, the tallest building in the world, and beautiful beaches, but for years the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been accused of abusing women — including his own daughters. Host Carol Hills speaks with investigative journalist Heidi Blake who produced “The Runaway Princesses,” a four-part narrative audio series for The New Yorker, which tells the story of Princess Latifa, who spent decades trying to escape one of the world’s most-powerful men .

In 2018, Sheika Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai, attempted a daring escape to international waters, away from what she characterized as a dangerous and oppressive life among her family. She was captured and brought back to the United Arab Emirates, and though there have been public statements saying she is safe and content, her wellbeing has become a matter of international concern. Dana is joined by New Yorker staff writer Heidi Blake.

When the Sheik of Dubai’s daughters tried to escape their father, world powers turned a blind eye. But investigative reporter Heidi Blake was determined to document their plight. Writing for the New Yorker last year, Heidi unraveled the disturbing story of Emirati princesses Latifa and Shamsa, and how Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum crushed their bid for freedom. This week on Whale Hunting, Bradley Hope speaks with Heidi about reporting this story — now available as a new podcast, The Runaway Princesses — and how it reveals cracks in both British justice and in Dubai’s system of absolute monarchy.

To listen to Heidi’s new podcast, search for The Runaway Princesses in your favorite podcast app.

Sheikha Latifa was born into incredible privilege as the daughter of the leader of Dubai, but she and her sister risked everything to escape years of alleged abuse at the hands of their father. Heidi Blake explores the story in her new podcast The Runaway Princesses.

Heidi Blake is a writer for The New Yorker and the author of two books, From Russia with Blood: The Kremlin's Ruthless Assassination Program and Vladimir Putin's Secret War on the West and The Ugly Game: The Corruption of FIFA and the Qatari Plot to Buy the World Cup, with Jonathan Calvert. Her latest article is “The Fugitive Princesses of Dubai.”

“I definitely feel as an investigative reporter that I feel very driven by my own capacity for shock and outrage and genuinely feeling like this is unbelievable. And that kind of makes me want to keep digging. And once I stop feeling that on any given topic, I lose interest. And so I’ve always been a generalist, and I just kind of rove from one topic to the next. I’m always finding myself in new territory where I know absolutely nothing about the thing I’m starting to dig into and have to try and play catch up and get my head around something new.”

Princess Haya flees to London and ignites a bitter custody battle with Sheikh Mohammed. The court hearings put the spotlight back on Sheikha Latifa and Sheikha Shamsa’s abductions. But which of these women will end up free?

Infamous | A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production.

Public outrage over Sheikha Latifa’s disappearance prompts Princess Haya, Sheikh Mohammed’s wife and Jordanian royalty, to get involved. But Haya has secrets herself, and before long, her own relationship with Sheikh Mohammed takes a dark turn.

Infamous | A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production.

Sheikha Latifa, one of Sheikh Mohammed’s daughters and Shamsa’s sister, escapes on a yacht with the help of her capoeira instructor and an alleged former French spy. When their boat is suddenly ambushed by Indian Special Forces, Latifa’s bid for freedom seems dashed. But she’s recorded a video that could change everything.

Infamous | A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production.