An old Arab proverb says, “Never open a door if you cannot close it.” This is said to be one of the favorite sayings of the 31-year-old Princess Sheikha Mahra.

The daughter of the leader of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Greek woman Zoe Grigorakou is a widely discussed figure for two reasons.

First, due to her mother’s surname, which became known in Greece in the 1990s because of her father Vassilis Grigorakos and her uncles Nick and Teddy, who were associated with the so-called “Greek Mafia.”

Her own name gained incredible publicity last July when she ended her marriage with the billionaire Sheikh Mana Al Maktoum via a cryptic Instagram post.

She used the “triple talaq” method, typically used by men in the Middle East, where a husband says “I divorce you” three times to instantly dissolve a marriage under Sharia law.

Sheikha Mahra took it into her own hands and posted:
“My beloved husband, since you are busy with other company, I announce our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you. Take care, your ex-wife.”

One year after this online divorce that made her famous in the Arab world and beyond, the princess with roots in Laconian Mani is making a fresh start. She is now in love with the Moroccan-American rapper French Montana.

The New Love Story

A few days ago, VIBE magazine caught the couple on a romantic walk in Paris. Mahra even shared an Instagram story showing their hands holding a lock in front of the Eiffel Tower, with a heart emoji — a subtle confirmation of the budding romance that brought a smile back to the half-Greek princess’s face.

French Montana (real name: Karim Kharbouch), who has 45 million followers on Instagram, met Sheikha Mahra — whose Greek name is Christina — about a year ago. According to well-informed sources, their first interaction was last fall, just three months after her divorce.

Her decision to divorce using a male-dominated method left a deep impression on French Montana, and they reportedly discussed it during meetings in Dubai.

They were seen together at the Four Seasons hotel, though not sitting side by side and surrounded by friends. They were also spotted on a desert safari, where Montana experienced Bedouin life and customs — not surprising, given his Moroccan heritage.

Their strong chemistry brought them closer, and their relationship gradually moved from friendship to romance. At first, they kept it private, but they went public when the time felt right, as seen in their recent photos walking hand-in-hand in Paris.

More photos are expected in the coming weeks, though not too many — the princess is cautious, given the sensitivity around publicizing her new relationship. Royals typically don’t comment on romances unless formally approved by their families, preferring to wait for official engagement and wedding announcements.

In this case, her new partner isn’t royalty but comes from a completely different world.

It’s unknown whether Mahra has introduced him to her mother, Zoe Grigorakou, who has always supported her daughter, especially through difficult times.

The Girl from Mani

Until last year, few paid attention to the young princess — just one of the 29 children of UAE ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The story of how her father met her mother remains a mystery, typical of royal personal lives in the Middle East. There are no public details about how or when they met, their relationship, marriage, or divorce.

Zoe Grigorakou is said to have left Greece in the mid-1990s, later meeting the future Emirati ruler, who in 1995 was appointed heir by his brother Maktoum.

Their daughter was born on February 26, 1994. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Mahra said she grew up with both parents, despite their divorce.

Her father married at least eleven times, divorcing all but one wife — Hind bint Maktoum, his cousin and the mother of 12 of his children. But he always had a special fondness for Mahra, who was raised by her mother with strong ties to her Mani heritage.

She grew up speaking perfect Greek and Arabic. She studied International Relations in London, where her mother proudly attended her graduation.

Mahra had a close bond with her busy father, who reportedly gave her silent approval to divorce her unfaithful husband via social media.

She visits Greece incognito. After her wedding in 2013, she vacationed in Mykonos. A few months post-divorce, she released her first perfume named “Divorce.” It costs €300 and gained popularity — perhaps because its creator proved that even in patriarchal societies, a woman can dare to leave her husband with just a post.

Life After Divorce

The princess’s personal fortune is estimated at €300 million, not including her share of her father’s €15 billion estate. Her daughter was born last May — the most important moment in 31-year-old Mahra’s life. Now, one year after her divorce, she’s chosen a new partner: a well-known rapper.

French Montana, very different from her ex — the typical billionaire prince — moved to the U.S. at 13 with his family, leaving Morocco in search of a better future.

He grew up in the South Bronx. Two years later, when his father wanted the family to return to Morocco, his mother refused. Pregnant with her third child, she remained in New York, and 16-year-old French Montana became the man of the house.

When rap entered his life, so did bad influences. In 2003, two men tried to kill him outside a recording studio in the Bronx. He survived and went on to build a successful career, collaborating with artists like Drake and Cardi B.

He has 45 million followers, one divorce, one child, and recently bought Selena Gomez’s house in Calabasas for €4 million.

A few days ago, he was seen smiling with Sheikha Mahra at an Arabic restaurant.

He hasn’t yet posted anything about her on his own social media, but that’s expected eventually, now that the relationship with the half-Greek princess has been revealed.