Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina break taboos in Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

The couple formed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez, who have just announced their engagement, illustrates a two-level opening in Saudi Arabia, where cohabitation outside of marriage is tolerated for foreigners, but remains unthinkable for locals.

Although the legislation of this conservative kingdom, which houses the most sacred places of Islam, formally prohibits extramarital relationships, its application has been relaxed in recent years, indicate experts.

Foreign couples can now live together or share a hotel room without being married, and young Saudi men and women from big cities can frequent mixed public places, after decades of strict gender separation.

The arrival in the country, in January 2023, of the Portuguese football player and his Argentine-Spanish partner, mother of two of his children, sparked criticism for not being officially married.

Despite this, the couple continued to flaunt their glamorous lifestyle on Instagram, where the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is the most followed personality in the world, with 662 million followers, or on Netflix, where she is the star of the documentary series "Soy Georgina".

"More flexibility and pragmatism" –

"How could the land of the two holy mosques accept this impurity for two years?", asked Raad Mohammed on the social network X.

However, this type of comment was quickly drowned out by a wave of congratulations, while the Saudi press pretends not to see.

Times have changed in a kingdom where 70% of Saudis are under 35 years old, an evolution that, according to Sebastian Sons, of the German institute CARPO, "is part of a broader framework of social transformation in Saudi Arabia".

"Although conservative rules remain, they are less dominant than before and applied with more flexibility and pragmatism", adds the expert.

The rich Gulf monarchy decided in 2016 to drastically reduce the power of its feared religious police, which until then strictly enforced Islamic law.

Although an informal union remains taboo, laws that required gender separation in public places have been repealed.

Since 2019, young couples can frequent cafes and restaurants, where there used to be an entrance for men and another for families.

Under the impetus of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the ambitious 'Vision 2030' reform plan aims to open up the country and diversify its economy, still heavily dependent on oil.

In this sense, the presence of non-Muslim tourists is now authorized, and since 2018, women can legally drive.

"Ideal ambassador"

Alongside luxury resorts, entertainment districts have been created, while petrodollars attract a constant flow of international stars and major sporting events.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the heart of the strategy. Since his arrival, many renowned players have come to play in the Saudi Championship, and the country will host the 2034 World Cup.

"Cristiano Ronaldo has won a prominent place in Saudi football, where he is perceived at the same time as a model and an ideal ambassador of the government's ambitious project to put Saudi Arabia on the world football map", assures Sons.

In this context, it is not surprising that the couple's cohabitation and the player's excesses are forgiven.

In February 2024, he was suspended for touching his genitals while looking at the crowd, which was shouting the name of his great rival, Argentine Lionel Messi.

A slip-up that did not prevent him from renewing his contract with Al-Nassr until 2027.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.