Ronnie O’Sullivan has embarked on a ‘clean start’ by embracing a digital detox following his move to Dubai with his wife, Laila Rouass, this summer.

The snooker legend, who is approaching his 50th birthday, made the move in June, trading his home in Essex for the Middle East. This decision came after considering locations like Yorkshire and even Spain, all in pursuit of honing his skills in the sport he loves.

O’Sullivan and Rouass, an actress famous for her roles in “Footballers’ Wives” and for her impressive fourth-place finish on “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2009, have had a tumultuous relationship. They got engaged in 2013, and despite announcing a split late last year, they surprised many by marrying in June and then relocating.

In his new home in Dubai, the seven-time world champion has completely disconnected from social media. His phone lacks messaging apps, news apps, and even a web browser, limiting direct communication to only a select few friends and family members.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, O’Sullivan expressed, “I wish I’d done it earlier. I might adopt this approach every six months. I’m not interested in advancing my career through networking. My friends are enough. The phone doesn’t add much to my life, so it’s quite nice, really.”

Their choice of Dubai was largely influenced by his new wife. Rouass, of Moroccan origin, wanted a sunny home, and the couple agreed the lifestyle there made it an even better fit.

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.