A Beauty Queen and a Dubai Sheikh — What Happened To Their Love 18 Years Later…

Jelena Jakovljević was a simple girl from a small village in Serbia when she won the Miss Yugoslavia title in 1998. But her life would change completely years later, when she met Said bin Drai, a wealthy sheikh from Dubai. They fell in love, got married, and had four children together. Today, Jelena is considered one of the most successful women in the UAE. But how did they really meet? Are they still together? Watch the full video to find out. Don’t forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and hit the bell icon to get notified as I upload a new video. Let’s go on. In recent decades, there have been many stories of foreign women marrying wealthy Arab sheikhs—and in most of these cases, the ending was far from happy. For example, Nivin El Gamal, an Egyptian model, secretly married Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and had a son with him. But the sheikh never publicly recognized the child, and shortly after, he married his cousin—abandoning Nivin and their son. Their marriage was never legally recognized, leaving her betrayed and heartbroken. Another example is Mouna Ayoub, who married Saudi billionaire Nasser Al Rashid. She spent years living in a gilded cage—unable to speak to men and forced to wear a burqa. It wasn’t until 20 years later that she managed to get a divorce, but she was forced to leave her five children behind. Amid all these stories of heartbreak and betrayal, Jelena Jakovljević’s journey took a very different path. Jelena was born on May 16, 1979, in the small village of Žabalj, Serbia, into a very modest family. From a young age, she studied English and dreamed of pursuing an international modeling career. During her teenage years, Jelena began participating in various local beauty contests. In 1997, Jelena was among the 10 finalists in the Elite Model Look competition. A year later, she competed in the prestigious Miss Yugoslavia pageant. Jelena’s family faced financial difficulties, and only her father could accompany and support her at the event, as they couldn’t afford tickets for her mother and brother. Despite these challenges, Jelena stood out among the contestants. She won special awards, including Miss Photogenic and Miss Internet, becoming the first contestant in her country’s history to hold three titles in a single competition. Ultimately, she was crowned Miss Yugoslavia. This victory opened many doors for Jelena. She began working with top modeling agencies across Europe and beyond, traveling the world for photo shoots and fashion shows. She first lived briefly in Italy before moving to Dubai in 2001, becoming one of the first international models in the region. It was there, in 2003, that Jelena met her future husband, Sheikh Said bin Drai. They were introduced through mutual friends, but at first, there was no instant connection. “When we first met, he didn’t pay any attention to me. I weighed only forty-eight kilograms and looked very skinny. But he, like many Arab men, prefers tall women with pronounced curves. I only caught his interest after we started talking,” Jelena recalled. Said bin Drai may carry the title of “sheikh,” but he is not part of Dubai’s royal family. His family, however, is highly influential — his father served as the UAE’s prime minister for many years, and their roots in the country run deep. As a young boy, Said was even photographed standing next to Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, hinting at the circles he would later move in. Said is the owner of Bin Drai Capital, a company specializing in real estate development, including residential, commercial, and industrial projects. His net worth is estimated at around $3 billion. Beyond business, Said is passionate about polo. He is the patron of the Bin Drai Polo Team, one of the UAE’s leading teams, which competes internationally. Over the years, he has played alongside high-profile figures such as Prince Harry and also serves as vice chairman of the UAE Polo Federation. After their first meeting, Jelena and Said began spending more time together, and it didn’t take long for them to start dating. Said’s family welcomed Jelena with open arms, treating her as one of their own and showing no concern for differences in religion or background. Their bond grew quickly. Even though it is not common in Arab culture for couples to live together before marriage, Jelena and Said moved in together just two weeks after they began dating. Jelena had always dreamed of finding true love, but she never imagined it would be with a wealthy and handsome man like Said. After four years of dating, the couple decided to get married. Because of intense media attention, they chose to hold a secret wedding at the end of December 2007. The ceremony took place at Said’s family home and was attended only by close family members. Jelena wore a stunning wedding dress made of lace from Paris, silk and chiffon from Germany, and decorated with Swarovski crystals. Said wore traditional Arab attire. The wedding cake was designed as three large stacked spheres, decorated with flowers and vines. The ceremony blended both Serbian and Arab customs, and the couple even shared a kiss, which is uncommon at Arab weddings. After their wedding, Jelena’s life changed completely. She and her husband lived in a large mansion and stepped into a world of luxury that few people ever experience. The couple traveled frequently and attended high-profile social events in Dubai and abroad. They also had 4 children together, 3 sons and a daughter. From the outside, Jelena seemed to have everything any woman could dream of. She was living like a true princess, surrounded by wealth, comfort, and status. But despite this privileged life, Jelena never wanted to be someone who depended entirely on her husband. She had always been independent, and she carried that mindset into her marriage. In 2012, she founded her clothing brand, Duchess by Jelena, which seamlessly blends her Western roots with Arab culture. The brand quickly gained popularity, and its collections are regularly featured at fashion events in Dubai. Jelena has made a name for herself in the region. In 2010, she was nominated for Emirates Woman of the Year in the business category. She has also been recognized among the UAE’s Top 12 Stylish Women by Emirates Woman magazine, and last year she was nominated for the Middle East’s Most Admired Woman Entrepreneur award. Beyond her fashion brand, Jelena has expanded into several other business ventures. She opened beauty salons, a five-star nursery, a premium preschool, a multispecialty health facility, and various other businesses “I have always been a workaholic, and the idea of just being a housewife never existed in my mind. I often work past midnight. Nobody is surprised anymore when they get an email from me at two in the morning,” Jelena said. Despite her success, Jelena has often faced criticism simply because she is married to an Arab sheikh. Some claim her achievements are only thanks to her husband, or that she lives in a harem with many other wives. She responded to these rumors with humor: "Of course, I live in a harem. My husband is Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, as you know, and luckily, he has 12 other wives—so I don’t have to see him every day.” Today, Jelena Jakovljević is seen not just as the wife of a wealthy sheikh, but as a successful entrepreneur and a devoted mother. Many doubted that her relationship would last—especially given how similar stories often ended—but Jelena and her husband defied the odds. They have now been married for almost 18 years, and their love remains strong. So, what do you think really makes this love story last, when so many others fail? Share your thoughts in the comments. 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