Cristiano Ronaldo has left Riyadh for Madrid as escalating hostilities across the Middle East triggered departures by residents and expatriates seeking safety from the widening regional conflict.
Flight records showed his £61 million Bombardier Global Express 6500 departed Riyadh at about 8pm on Monday and landed in Madrid around 1am after a direct journey.
Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr and has lived in Riyadh since joining from Manchester United in December 2022, is among thousands leaving parts of the region amid heavy hostilities.
The confrontation began on Saturday involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and has since intensified, prompting concerns among foreign nationals across several Middle Eastern cities.
Tensions rose further on Tuesday when the Ministry of Defence in KSA said two drones struck the United States embassy in Riyadh, causing a limited fire and minor material damage.
Authorities subsequently suspended domestic football activities and continental fixtures involving clubs from the region as security concerns deepened following the reported drone incident in Riyadh.
The Asian Football Confederation also suspended several matches as the security situation worsened and uncertainty surrounding regional travel increased among participating clubs and officials.
Riyadh has now emerged as a principal exit route for wealthy individuals and senior executives seeking to leave the Middle East amid the rapidly expanding conflict.
According to Semafor, private security firms are booking fleets of sport utility vehicles to move clients from Dubai to Riyadh before arranging chartered private flights out of the region.
The report said those evacuated include senior executives at global financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals who had been in the region for business or leisure purposes.
