Marking almost one year of living in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodríguez, visit for the first time AlUla, an ancient Arabic oasis in the Medina Province. The Portuguese striker signed with the Saudi team of Al-Nassr in January 2023 and the two decided to go on a little getaway exploring the desert region.
Amazed by the extraordinary human and natural heritage of AlUla here in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Sharing their escapade on Instagram, the couple offered a glimpse of the city located in the northeast of the country, known for its impressive rock formations and archaeological sites of ancient civilizations. And, since they were all the way out in the middle of the desert, they of course did not miss the opportunity to do a little stargazing. “The sky never ceases to amaze me with its beauty. Thank you universe for gifting me so many shooting stars this trip”, Rodríguez wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
Dotted with oases, AlUla used to be a vital point along trading routes going from the south of the Arabian Peninsula into Egypt and beyond. With traces of inhabitants dating back to the Palaeolithic (200,000 BC), stone tools having been discovered in the area, by the Bronze Age (3,000-2,000 BC), burial and funerary monuments indicated permanent settlements in the region. The area also houses the first Saudi site to be designated as UNESCO World Heritage – the city of Hegra, capital of the former Nabataean Kingdom.
The two also had dinner at the Maraya Concert Hall, which holds the Guiness world record for being the biggest reflective building in the world. The Maraya Social Restaurant stands on the roof of the 9,740 square meters architectural marvel, with a menu that combines local flavours and international recipes.
Staying at what was named one of the best luxury hotels that opened in 2022, the couple enjoying the facilities Banyan Tree AlUla has to offer, Ronaldo being seen enjoying the open-air pool at dusk in one of the pictures Rodríguez posted. The resort features 47 villas with designs inspired by traditional Arab tents, each with their own pool and spacious outdoor area overlooking the rock formations in the Ashar Valley.
