Ronnie O’Sullivan embraces a new life in Dubai
Ronnie O’Sullivan is relishing a fresh chapter in his life as he relocates to Dubai, stripping away digital distractions for what he describes as the “clean start” he has sought for years, approaching his 50th birthday, reports BritPanorama.
The seven-time world champion left the UK this summer after marrying actress Laila Rouass, selling his Essex home, and settling in the United Arab Emirates. O’Sullivan initially contemplated a permanent move to Spain but ultimately chose Dubai for its more tranquil environment and favourable climate.
Now based in Dubai, O’Sullivan has adopted a lifestyle largely devoid of digital influence. He has eliminated all social media apps, messaging platforms, and even web browsers from his new phone. With a changed number, only a select few—close family and trusted friends—are able to contact him.
“It’s sort of a clean start,” he stated. “I wish I’d done it before, I might do it every six months. I’m not looking to progress my career through networking and that sort of thing. I’ve got my friends and that’s enough. The phone doesn’t really add to my life. So it’s quite nice, really.”
Despite settling in Dubai, O’Sullivan has not learned Arabic, which he believes has unexpectedly benefited his social interactions. “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 explained. “I know it sounds terrible but we just smile at each other, hello, and it’s good.”
The move is partly a response to his demanding travel schedule, as much of his professional life now revolves around events in the Middle East and China. O’Sullivan described the jet lag as a challenge he struggled to manage. “I work a lot in the Middle East and China, and the jetlag, I could never get on top of it. That was a struggle,” he noted. His previous lifestyle in Essex, which involved long commutes to London and extensive practice sessions in Sheffield, had become overwhelming.
“I had to do a lot of trips into London, an hour and 20 minutes each way – it was a headache,” he added. “I just find it all a bit too hectic. I couldn’t get anything done there.” He insists that his new life in Dubai is not about the lavish lifestyle often associated with the emirate. “We’re not there for a bouji sort of lifestyle. I just like the simplicity of it there, the weather’s great,” he explained.
O’Sullivan is set to return to the snooker table this week at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia, yet he remains focused on maintaining a quieter personal life. This desire for privacy was reflected in his understated wedding to Rouass in June, which took place at St George’s Town Hall in Shadwell, East London, without any fanfare or even a best man.
“I didn’t actually have anyone there,” he said. “I mean, we had Laila’s sisters. But we didn’t want nothing big. I’m just not into all that stuff. I f***ing hate being the host – I can’t stand it.”
As the snooker world readies for O’Sullivan’s next appearance, it’s clear his move marks a significant shift in focus—not just on the sport, but on a life defined by simplicity amidst complexity.
