Come to Saudi Arabia! Is it not enough to be a player and owner? Ronaldo Is a Tourist Ambassador

Sep 02, 2025

Come to Saudi Arabia! Is it not enough to be a player and owner? Ronaldo Is a Tourist Ambassador
(FILES) Al-Nassr's new Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C), his partner Georgina Rodriguez (2nd-L) and his children stand on the stage during his unveiling at the Mrsool Park Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 3, 2023. When Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez announced their engagement in August 2025, two things stood out: the outsized diamond ring, and their unmarried cohabitation in conservative Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)



Cristiano Ronaldo, who is active in Saudi Arabia's Al Nasr as a 'player and owner', debuted as a tourism ambassador this time.

On the 2nd (Korea time), the Saudi Tourism Agency announced a new tourism campaign named Unreal Calendar. In the 60-second commercial, Ronaldo highlighted the video with the message "'I came to Saudi Arabia for football, I stayed for more.'" In addition to Ronaldo's match scenes, various sports events such as boxing, tennis, golf, and Formula 1 were held in Saudi Arabia. An official from the Saudi Tourism Authority said in an Arabic news article that "Today, Saudi Arabia is establishing itself as a travel destination not only with cultural legitimacy but also with the spirit of world-class events and warm hospitality."The tourism sector is determined to inspire the world and provide tourists with an unforgettable experience."," he said. He added that the campaign with Ronaldo is a good example of Saudi Arabia's present and aspirations.

Ronaldo also helped. "The reason I respect Saudi Arabia the most is the way it invests for the future, but respects its roots," he said. "From camel racing and horse racing to e-sports and from the desert to the stadium (Saudi Arabia) is a stage where all young athletes can achieve their big dreams."




Saudi Arabia is hosting various sporting events as part of its 'Vision 2030' plan to diversify the economic structure that has been concentrated on oil. In addition to the existing competitions, various international competitions such as the 2027 Asian Cup, the 2029 Winter Asian Games, and the 2034 World Cup are scheduled to be held. Arab News reports 'The Saudi government has invested $800 billion, and expects a market value of $22.4 billion by 2030. Such an attempt will contribute $16.5 billion to gross domestic product by 2030, it predicted.

Come to Saudi Arabia! Is it not enough to be a player and owner? Ronaldo Is a Tourist Ambassador
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Taawoun v Al Nassr - King Abdullah Sport City, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - August 29, 2025 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo in action REUTERS/Stringer
Ronaldo, who signed Al-Nasr in 2022, is being treated like a `emperor' in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo, who signed a re-contract with an annual salary of 178 million pounds (about 333.7 billion won) and various bonuses ahead of this season, is with three drivers, four housekeepers, two chefs, three gardeners and four bodyguards provided by Al Nasr. Even Al-Nasr decided to hand over 15% of the club's stake as well as support for Ronaldo's private jet usage fee. Including all conditions, Ronaldo is expected to earn more than 900 billion won a year. In addition, Ronaldo also allowed him to decide on his own whether to play in the away game. Ronaldo is forced to make a gesture in favor of Saudi Arabia.

However, there are also a number of unfavorable views on Ronaldo's activities. Since taking office as Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad bin Salman Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia has implemented various reform policies, including the opening of women's driving and movie theaters and allowing tourists to enter the country. However, in the despotic monarchy, there are still voices of criticism against human rights-press suppression as well as dictatorship based on Sharia, an Islamic law. As a result, some point out that Saudi Arabia's successive international competitions and expansion of professional football are an attempt at sports washing.








This article was translated by Naver AI translator.