How Ronaldo’s Engagement Put A Spotlight On Saudi Arabia’s Shifting Social Boundaries
When Georgina Rodríguez posted a photo on Instagram flaunting a massive engagement ring, the reaction was typical of celebrity culture — until online users noticed the geotag location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Far from the expected glamour capitals of Paris or New York, the Saudi city stood out not just for its geography, but for what it represents — a kingdom in the throes of rapid, often contradictory, social transformation.
The relationship between Cristiano Ronaldo and Rodríguez, unwed but long-term partners with five children, would have been taboo — if not outright punishable — in Saudi Arabia just a few years ago.
READ: How Soccer Reveals Different Meanings Of ‘Secular’ In France And The US
Public morality was policed by the mutawa, as the local religious police are known as, and violations like cohabitation or sex outside of marriage could bring lashings or imprisonment. However, the couple has lived openly in Saudi Arabia since 2022 following the soccer star’s move to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has described life in the kingdom as one of “peace and safety” — adding that he and his family feel welcomed by the local people and culture.
“We don’t need to prove anything to anyone,” he said. “I love the culture. I’d just say: Come and see it for yourself.”
This juxtaposition — one of a global celebrity living an openly non-marital family life in a country built on strict Islamic law — has, according to The New York Times, captured the moment Saudi society finds itself in: A delicate balancing act between Islamic law and globalization, all orchestrated under the reformist-yet-authoritarian hand of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Since 2015, the prince has pursued a wide-ranging modernization agenda under the Vision 2030 plan. It includes increased tourism and a rebranding of Saudi Arabia’s international image, resulting in the country getting the right to host soccer’s World Cup in 2034.
Alongside these efforts have come social reforms like lifting the ban on women driving, weakening the powers of the religious police and opening previously closed doors to tourism and foreign culture. Yet, these reforms have not been accompanied by a transparent legal structure. Saudi Arabia still lacks a codified penal code, and interpretations of Islamic law can vary widely between judges. This enables the government to selectively enforce — or waive — rules.
In Ronaldo’s case, no official clarification was ever offered by the Saudi government on whether a legal exemption was granted for his cohabitation, nor whether the engagement signifies a shift toward tolerance for similar arrangements among Saudi citizens. For many Saudi couples, particularly women, the cost of similar behavior could be denial of legal rights, medical care or education for their children.
According to the Spanish news agency EFE, local authorities made an unofficial exception in Ronaldo’s case. Two Saudi lawyers told EFE that while the law technically remains in place, it is no longer enforced for foreign nationals:
“Although the laws still prohibit cohabitation without a marriage contract, the authorities have begun to turn a blind eye and do not persecute anyone. Of course, these laws are used when there is a problem or a crime,” one lawyer said.
The spectacle of Ronaldo and his girlfriend’s life in Riyadh, amid red-carpet appearances and lavish vacations, comes in stark contrast with the everyday life of regular Saudis. Many women still face significant restrictions. Without a marriage certificate, women are often barred from state services or denied legal recognition for their children.
Despite visible signs of loosening cultural norms — such as women wearing shorts or young men drinking in underground clubs — these behaviors exist in a gray zone. The state’s silence either condones or temporarily tolerates such activities, yet leaves space for sudden crackdowns if public sentiment shifts or political expediency demands it.
Ronaldo’s presence in the Middle Eastern country is not just a personal career move — it’s a calculated element of the Saudi state’s soft power campaign. Bringing the most-followed man on Instagram to their country serves to glamorize the country in front of millions. Rodríguez, too, with her influencer status, plays a role in presenting a modern, even Western, image of Saudi life.
Beneath this glossy surface, however, this curated image often masks the continued political repression and legal inconsistency that characterizes modern-day Saudi Arabia.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged.