Inside Taylor Ward’s Lavish Saudi Arabian Life: From Tears to ‘Two-Kitchen’ Luxury

Taylor Ward’s Saudi Transformation: From Tearful Reluctance to Luxury Living

When Taylor Ward first learned her husband Riyad Mahrez had secured a staggering £30 million transfer to Saudi Pro League’s Al-Ahli, her tearful reaction spoke volumes. The Manchester-born influencer’s world turned upside down overnight, with cameras capturing every raw emotion for Amazon Prime’s reality series ‘Married To The Game’.

“I feel like it is so hard, there are times I can’t, I just don’t like. I don’t like it, I don’t have a choice,” Ward confessed to her sister Darby in emotional scenes from the show’s first season. Fast forward to today, and the 27-year-old’s perspective has undergone a remarkable transformation.

‘I Actually Love Saudi Now’: Ward’s Surprising Confession

Despite initial reservations about relocating to a conservative monarchy where Western wives have reportedly faced public scrutiny over their appearance, Ward’s tune has changed dramatically ahead of the show’s second season premiering April 8th.

“I actually love Saudi now,” admits Ward with candid enthusiasm. “I have people coming out to visit me all the time. My friends fly out from the UK, and my mum and dad live in Dubai, so they come over and that’s really nice.”

The social media sensation—who boasts nearly 3 million Instagram followers—credits her adjustment to regular travel between England (where her jewelry brand Astalia is based), Dubai, and other exotic destinations she frequently visits via private jet.

Inside The Ward-Mahrez Saudi Mansion: Two Kitchens and ‘Too Much Space’

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping aspect of Ward’s Saudi adaptation is the couple’s sprawling mansion in Jeddah. Decorated by Taylor herself alongside her mother—Real Housewives of Cheshire star Dawn Ward—the property is an opulent masterpiece of creams and purple-veined marble.

“The house is amazing now,” Ward gushes. “It’s such a big house, it’s taken a long time to get it finished, so we’re still working on it now.” Big is an understatement—the mansion features countless living rooms, an outdoor pool, and perhaps most surprisingly, two kitchens: one pristine showpiece and another “dirty” kitchen where actual cooking happens.

“I think that’s just the culture out here,” Ward explains. “I probably would have just had one big kitchen and had everyone in there—the more the merrier. But the people here all have chefs and so every house we looked at had two kitchens.”

In what might be the most unexpected complaint from a celebrity mansion owner, Ward confesses: “Our biggest problem was finding a house small enough! The houses were so big, me and Riyad were walking around them like we were at the Trafford Centre. I was like, ‘What are we going to do in here? We’re going to get lost!'”

The Glamorous Reality Behind The Filtered Photos

While her Instagram showcases a life of impeccable organization—from color-coded closets filled with Birkins to pristine living spaces—Ward insists her Saudi reality isn’t always as picture-perfect as it appears.

“A lot of the time it’s just very normal, and we do very normal things,” she emphasizes. “We’re not always super glamorous. Most of the time in Saudi I’ve got no make-up on, I’m running the kids around. It’s not always these amazing trips and huge weddings.”

The mother to two-year-old Mila (plus stepmother to Mahrez’s two children from a previous relationship) adds: “If you’ve ever seen me getting off a flight at Manchester airport after the night flight with three kids, you’ll know that! Our house is an absolute mad house. I don’t always have it all figured out.”

The Real Challenges Behind The Luxury Façade

Despite the private jets and marble-filled mansions, Ward doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the sacrifices that come with her lifestyle. The constant travel between Saudi Arabia, England, and Dubai means the family “don’t know whether we’re coming or going.”

“It can be lonely,” she admits with refreshing honesty. “I’ve had to move away from all my family and live on the other side of the world, in a country that’s completely different culturally. A lot of my work stuff is on hold as long as we’re here. Riyad’s career comes first as that’s our main income.”

The footballer himself makes significant sacrifices too, missing family events and struggling with the rigid schedule that comes with his professional status. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s in a position that most boys dream of, but it doesn’t come without the sacrifice,” Ward reflects.

A Footballer’s Wife Finding Her Footing

As Ward settles into her third-culture lifestyle—part Saudi resident, part global traveler—she’s created a routine that makes the adjustment smoother. “I still go back to England for work so I’m not here for the longest stints of time,” she explains.

“I just don’t unpack anymore. I have one case that I keep packed at all times with spare toiletries and plug adaptors and things like that because you just never know where you’re going to be, things are always changing.”

The influencer has also found comfort in establishing daily routines: “I’ve got my bearings a lot more now. I’ve got the kids in nursery, I found a really nice gym, just little things that make day to day life a lot nicer and easier.”

As viewers prepare to get an intimate look into Ward’s Saudi Arabian life in the second season of “Married To The Game” premiering April 8th on Amazon Prime, one thing is clear—behind the filtered perfection of her Instagram feed lies a woman navigating the complex reality of global relocation with surprising resilience.

Perhaps more couples facing international moves might relate to Taylor Ward’s experience than expected—though admittedly, few will be doing it with two kitchens and a private jet at their disposal.