How will Cristiano Ronaldo and his wife live in Arabs without marriage

As Al Nassr's new boy Cristiano Ronaldo prepares for life in Riyadh, it is unclear whether the footballer's family will accompany him. Unmarried couples cannot live together in Saudi Arabia, but two Saudi attorneys have verified to the Spanish news agency EFE that Ronaldo and his girlfriend, Georgina Rodríguez, would be permitted to do so.

According to AS soccer one of the lawyers, who specialized in civil law said, “Although the kingdom still prohibits cohabitation outside of wedlock, the authorities have started to turn a blind eye to that in recent times” and added, “Nowadays - among foreign nationals - the Saudi authorities don’t interfere in this matter, even if the laws prohibit unmarried couples from living together.”

Only a few years ago, this would have been unthinkable in a country where Islamic law is generally strictly enforced. Since Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s crown prince in 2017, however, some small advances have been made in recognition of civil rights, particularly women’s rights. Bin Salman has also overseen reforms in the areas of sport and leisure, but it’s worth emphasizing that Saudis do not enjoy the same freedoms as foreigners. Indeed, the two lawyers who spoke to EFE wished to remain anonymous.