In recent pictures surfaced on Instagram, the images purportedly showed missing Sheikha Latifa, daughter of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and who in a video a few months ago said she was being held captive and feared for her life. 

The United Nations in February asked for evidence of Princess Latifa was still alive after her video was broadcast by BBC.  

Sheikh Mohammed is the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is one of the seven emirates.

Princess Latifa, 35, has not been seen in public since she attempted to flee Dubai in March 2018.  

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A photo posted on Instagram on Saturday night appears to show Princess Latifa with a woman, as the caption said, “Lovely food at Bice Mare with Latifa earlier.”

Bice Mare is a restaurant in downtown Dubai.

Opoyi has not independently verified the photos or when they were taken. AFP said it is unable to verify the photos or when they were taken.

Another picture was posted on the same account earlier this week, purportedly showing Latifa sitting at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates (MoE), along with two other women.

A caption read: “Lovely evening at MoE with friends.”

AFP could not identify any of the women who appeared in the pictures.

Dubai authorities have not commented.

According to the BBC, friends of Latifa have said they recognised the two women seen at the mall, and that the royal is acquainted with them.

Rothna Begum, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP: “If this photo is true and recent, it gives us some relief that she is alive.”

In February, Dubai’s royal family released a statement insisting that Latifa was being “cared for at home”.

“Her family has confirmed that her highness is being cared for at home, supported by her family and medical professionals.

“Sheikha Latifa continues to improve and we are hopeful she will return to public life at the appropriate time.”