Cristiano Ronaldo flies to Sir Abu Nu'ayr the week of AFC postponements and conflict in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo flew from Shaibah Airport in Saudi Arabia to Sir Abu Nu'ayr Airport in the United Arab Emirates on May 25, a 42-minute hop aboard his Bombardier Global Express XRS, LX-GOL. The short flight comes the same week the Asian Football Confederation postponed all West Region matches in the AFC Champions League Elite and Champions League Two, including Al-Nassr's quarter-final against Al-Wasl, after Iranian drone strikes hit the U.S. embassy compound in Riyadh and the Ras Tanura refinery, per the Mirror and Yahoo Sports. Commercial aviation in the Gulf has been severely disrupted, with airspace closures and diverted flights reported across the region.

Ronaldo's departure from Riyadh follows a pattern visible in his recent flight history: he has shuttled frequently between Saudi Arabia and European destinations—Madrid, Nice, Rome, Funchal—over the past two weeks, including a May 18 flight from Nice to Sharm El Sheikh and a May 12 trip from Madrid to Rome. The move to Sir Abu Nu'ayr, a small island off the UAE coast, aligns with the broader exodus of foreign nationals from Saudi Arabia as the conflict escalates, though Al-Nassr posted a photo of Ronaldo training on Tuesday, suggesting he may have remained in the kingdom while his jet relocated.

The 41-year-old forward is currently sidelined with a muscle injury sustained in Al-Nassr's win over Al-Fahya on May 23, and his club's next fixture remains uncertain as the Saudi Pro League and AFC competitions pause indefinitely. Ronaldo, who signed a contract extension with Al-Nassr in June 2025 reportedly worth £480,000 per day, has previously expressed contentment in Saudi Arabia, but the security situation has prompted a rapid reassessment of travel plans across the region. The UAE, a common transit hub for Gulf-based athletes, offers a stable alternative while the situation in Riyadh remains fluid.