Cristiano Ronaldo Acquires $9 Million Saudi Villas Through Unique Residency
What Happened?
Cristiano Ronaldo owns two luxury villas in Saudi Arabia worth $9 million, enabled by the country's Gifted Residency program, which allows property ownership without citizenship.
Key points
- Ronaldo's villas are located on the Red Sea coast, part of the exclusive Nujuma community.
- The Gifted Residency program allows foreign nationals to own property and sponsor family members.
- Ronaldo's residency is independent of his club, Al-Nassr, providing him long-term stability.
- He initially stayed in a luxury hotel suite costing around $300,000 before moving to a fortified residential compound.
- The villas' purchase price exceeds the minimum requirement for long-term residency privileges.
Key insights
- This arrangement may encourage other elite athletes to consider residency in Saudi Arabia.
- The program aims to diversify the economy and attract global talent to the kingdom.
- Ronaldo's investment highlights the growing trend of high-profile individuals seeking residency in the Gulf region.
Why it matters
Ronaldo's residency arrangement could influence how foreign athletes engage with Saudi Arabia's real estate and residency laws.
Tags
Entities
Source
Times of India
