Abu Dhabi royal Mahrah sentenced after cocaine use incident in London
Royal found unconscious on London street
Mahrah Al Nahyan, 32, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family through marriage, was found barefoot and slumped against metal railings in west London in June. According to a report by The Times, members of the public stayed with her and the child until police arrived.
Video recorded by a bystander reportedly showed Al Nahyan unconscious beside a man who was also lying unconscious. A barefoot toddler was playing close to a busy road, but authorities have not publicly disclosed the child’s relationship with Al Nahyan.
Cocaine use and police response
The court was told that Al Nahyan had admitted taking cocaine in the days before the incident. She was reportedly unable to respond to police officers for about 30 minutes after they arrived.
When she eventually spoke, she shouted at the officers, “This is not a slaughterhouse, why do you care so much? Why are you so worried?” Prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour told the court that a passerby noticed the child was unattended and close to moving traffic, prompting members of the public to intervene.
Police searched Al Nahyan and found drug-related equipment, but no illegal substances were recovered, according to the report. The incident led to a child neglect case and renewed attention to the child’s safety.
Court orders rehabilitation and community supervision
Al Nahyan admitted one charge of child neglect and was sentenced to a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement. The court also imposed a fine of just under $8,000.
Her defence lawyer, Stephen Vullo KC, told the court that she had been receiving treatment for drug addiction at a rehabilitation clinic since the incident. He said, “She made a grave mistake that day, and she knows it.”
Treatment plans and next steps
Vullo said Al Nahyan intended to complete a three-month rehabilitation programme by the end of the month. He added that she planned to rent a house near the clinic and attend Narcotics Anonymous as a day patient after completing the programme.
The court was also told that she receives a monthly allowance of slightly more than $10,500. The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of adults caring for young children and the possible consequences of neglect.
The case highlights the risks children can face when the adults responsible for them are unable to provide proper care. The court’s order combines punishment with treatment for addiction.
The focus now will be on rehabilitation and preventing similar incidents in the future. The available report does not provide further details about the toddler’s identity or current care arrangements.
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