Days after proposing to long-time girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was rumoured to be heading to Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and one of Saudi Arabia’s most luxurious resorts, on its own island in the Red Sea.
Ronaldo and the Argentinian model, with their five children, are said to be big fans of the property and its sister, The St Regis Red Sea Resort.
If you want to walk in the footsteps of Al Nassr football club’s most famous player and travel like he does across the kingdom, these are the hotels you’ll want to tick off your holiday bucket list.
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
One of seven Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world, Nujuma is an exclusive property in Hanak, Saudi Arabia, on its own island in the Red Sea. With gorgeous rope-hewn, shell-shaped beachfront and overwater villas, the property celebrates the kingdom’s heritage and history through the building materials used, experiences offered and decor chosen. With rates starting at more than $2,000 a night, it's known to be one of – if not the – most expensive hotels in the kingdom.
While the children enjoy their time at the activity-packed Ritz Kids club, Ronaldo and Rodriguez are said to spend their time at the spa, where they have cold plunges in the outdoor thermal therapy pool. Through her luxury real estate company, Bellhatria, Rodriguez has struck up a partnership with Nujuma, as it also offers 19 one and two-bedroom beachfront villas for sale.
The St Regis Red Sea Resort
The couple are said to be big fans of this Red Sea paradise on the Ummahat Islands archipelago, only a seven-minute boat ride away from Nujuma, with 90 beachfront and overwater villas designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma blending seamlessly with its well-preserved natural surroundings. These start from about $1,500 a night for a one-bedroom on the beach.
The family has spent their days riding bikes around the island’s sandy lanes, getting family spa treatments and playing on the white-sand shorelines that are dotted with mangroves teeming with marine life. In season three of the Netflix show I Am Georgina, the family watch the sunset over the Red Sea from the hotel’s jetty.
Banyan Tree AlUla
During a trip to the ancient city of AlUla, in the Ashar Valley, Ronaldo and family stayed at this local favourite, as they marked one year in the kingdom. The property and its architecture are steeped in cultural heritage, featuring 47 Arabian-inspired tented villas, each with private pools surrounded by jaw-dropping rock formations. Prices range from $300 in the low season, going up to almost $3,000 for the larger accommodation.
“AlUla is one of the most extraordinary places I’ve ever been,” Rodriguez said in season three of her Netflix show, while also sharing a photo on Instagram of Ronaldo enjoying a natural rock pool at the hotel.
Our Habitas AlUla
Rodriguez was also snapped at this gorgeous eco-resort’s signature pool during their trip to AlUla, as part of her TV series. The hotel’s ethos is rooted in sustainability, Saudi heritage and cultural authenticity, with tented villas amid the sandstone canyons featuring private lounge decks and outdoor showers. Rates start from $300 a night.
“You can’t find silence like this anywhere in the world,” she said of the ancient city, where the Old Town is “really romantic”, she added. The family also visited Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, where Nabatean tombs are carved into the dramatic rock formations.
They also stop to pose outside Maraya, the largest mirrored building in the world, before enjoying a meal at Maraya Social, a restaurant by Michelin-lauded British chef Jason Atherton, where the menu spans Mediterranean, Arabian and British influences.
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh
One of Saudi Arabia’s most famous hotels, in the renowned Kingdom Tower, was the family’s original home. The couple reportedly spent upwards of $330,000 a month for a two-floor, 17-room suite in the property before moving to their permanent $14 million mansion.
Known as the Kingdom Suite, it is on the 48th and 50th storeys of the 99-floor Kingdom Tower, with the hotel spanning 11 floors of the skyscraper. "At the beginning, I had some ups and downs because we had never lived in a hotel for so long,” Rodriguez said in an episode of I Am Georgina.
The property has several room categories, with prices starting from a little more than $500 a night, and is particularly notable for its French restaurant by Michelin-lauded chef Daniel Boulud and a pastry shop from Pierre Herme (also known as the “Picasso of Pastry”).
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Results
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
SPECS
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Brief scores:
Arsenal 4
Xhaka 25', Lacazette 55', Ramsey 79', Aubameyang 83'
Fulham 1
Kamara 69'
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
