Ronnie O’Sullivan has embarked on a ‘clean start’ by undergoing a digital detox after relocating to Dubai with his wife, Laila Rouass, this summer.
The snooker legend, who will celebrate his 50th birthday next month, made the move in June after selling his home in Essex. He chose the Middle East over potential locations like Yorkshire or even Spain, which he briefly considered, to concentrate more on his passion for the sport.
O’Sullivan crossed paths with Rouass, an actress famed for her roles in Footballers’ Wives and her fourth-place finish on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. The couple, who got engaged in 2013, had a tumultuous relationship. They announced their split late last year but surprised many by tying the knot in June before deciding on the relocation.
Now in Dubai, the seven-time world champion has completely disconnected from social media. His phone is devoid of messaging apps, news apps, or a web browser. Only a select few friends and family members can contact him directly.
In a conversation with The Sunday Times, he shared, ‘I wish I’d done it sooner. I might make it a habit every six months. I’m not interested in advancing my career through networking. My friends are enough. The phone doesn’t enhance my life, so it’s quite liberating.’
The decision to settle in Dubai was heavily influenced by Rouass. With Moroccan roots, she desired a sunny environment, and the couple found the lifestyle there to be a perfect match for their needs.
Ronnie O’Sullivan married Laila Rouass in June in a low-key affair in Shadwell, East London
The pair have opted for warmer climes in Dubai, near O’Sullivan’s snooker academy in Saudi
His glitzy five-table academy which he opened with the Saudi government, which he regularly visits as a coach and mentor, serves as a training base for elite players and young talent
‘We’re not there for a bouji sort of lifestyle. I just like the simplicity of it there, the weather’s great,’ he said.
Clearly drawn to a low-key life, the couple tied the knot at St George’s Town Hall in Shadwell, East London, without fanfare and without a best man.
‘I didn’t actually have anyone there,’ he said. ‘I mean, we had Laila’s sisters. But we didn’t want anything big.’
O’Sullivan also admitted that not speaking the language makes an undisturbed lifestyle easier to maintain.
‘One of the beauties of not knowing the language is I don’t really want to talk to everyone that I come in contact with,’ he added. ‘I know it sounds terrible but we just smile at each other, hello, and it’s good.’
The seven-time world champion has recently opened an academy in the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a joint venture with the Saudi government.
Kate and Rio Ferdinand also recently made the decision to ditch the UK for the Middle East
O’Sullivan will be back on the table this week at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship
His glitzy five-table academy, which he regularly visits as a coach and mentor, serves as a training base for elite international players and young talent.
Being based in nearby Dubai also makes travel easier, with O’Sullivan adding that the constant travelling and resulting jet lag ‘was a struggle’.
O’Sullivan will be back on the table this week at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia.
