Kate Ferdinand has tearfully admitted she is “struggling” to adjust to life in Dubai, despite insisting the move has been the right decision for her family.
The former TOWIE star relocated to the UAE last year with her husband Rio Ferdinand and their younger children, sharing glimpses of their sun-soaked lifestyle on social media. But behind the glossy posts, Kate has revealed a far more emotional reality.
Speaking on a recent episode of her Blended podcast, the 33-year-old confessed that while Dubai has been “amazing,” being separated from Rio’s two eldest sons, Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, who remain in the UK pursuing their football careers, has left her heartbroken.
She explained that the move has opened her eyes to “a completely different world,” but admitted she feels torn between two homes. Kate said she genuinely feels happy in Dubai, yet there is “a part of me missing,” adding that she has found herself breaking down in tears as homesickness creeps in.
Kate and Rio made the move with his daughter Tia, 13, from his marriage to the late Rebecca Ellison, along with their two younger children together, Cree, five, and Shae, two. While she believes Dubai has been incredible for the younger kids, she admitted the emotional strain of being apart from the older boys has been harder than she ever expected.
She shared that Rio has embraced their new life wholeheartedly, saying he “loves it so much,” while she continues to wrestle with feelings of guilt and sadness. Kate acknowledged the decision makes sense for the family overall, but stressed it has been a huge adjustment after everything they have been through together.
The influencer also revealed that the move has brought unexpected positives, particularly for Rio, who stepped back from his TNT Sports pundit role last year. According to Kate, the change has allowed him to be far more present at home, doing school runs and spending quality time with the children.
Yet even the sunshine hasn’t been enough to erase her longing for the UK. In an emotional admission, Kate said she even misses the rain, the cold air, and the everyday culture of England, confessing she wishes she could somehow merge both worlds into one.
Alongside the emotional upheaval, Kate has also been open about struggling with fatigue, pressure, and exhaustion in recent months. She revealed that her body has forced her to slow down, sharing candid updates about feeling overwhelmed, battling acne, and letting go of the pressure to “do everything.”
Despite insisting she isn’t unhappy, Kate admitted she is still adjusting, telling listeners that it’s okay “not to be ok” and reminding others that life doesn’t always move at the same pace — even when everything looks perfect from the outside.
