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A woman linked by marriage to Abu Dhabi’s royal family has been ordered by a UK court to complete a two-year rehabilitation programme and fined £6,114 after admitting to child neglect.
Mahrah Al Nahyan, 32, was found unconscious on a busy street in west London on June 13, with a three-year-old child nearby, according to British media reports. The child was reportedly barefoot and playing beside the road, close to moving traffic.
Passers-by intervened after noticing the child alone and remained with the child until police arrived. Another person was also found unconscious nearby.
Prosecutors told Southwark Crown Court that Mahrah had been unresponsive for around 30 minutes after taking cocaine. When she regained consciousness, she reportedly questioned why people were so concerned.
Police later found drug paraphernalia during a search but no illegal drugs. Following the incident, Mahrah was admitted to the Priory Clinic in Woking, Surrey, for addiction treatment.
She admitted the child-neglect charge at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday. Prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour said the child had been seen alone near a scooter and dangerously close to moving vehicles, prompting members of the public to intervene.
Her lawyer, Stephen Vuolo KC, said Mahrah regarded the incident as a serious mistake. He disputed that she had taken drugs on the day she was found unconscious, saying she had been exhausted after using drugs in the preceding days.
The lawyer added that Mahrah regretted her addiction and was committed to completing treatment. She planned to finish a three-month rehabilitation programme and later rent a home in Guildford while continuing daytime treatment.
Reports said Mahrah receives a monthly allowance of £8,000. It remains unclear how exactly she is related to Abu Dhabi’s royal family or whether the child is hers.
