Kate Ferdinand shared sweet snaps of family life in Dubai, saying the move has been a blessing for the kids’ happiness – but she shared one struggle she’s been dealing with
The family has been living in Dubai since August(Image: INSTAGRAM/xkateferdinand)
Kate Ferdinand has opened up about the emotional rollercoaster she experienced after her stepson Tate flew out to Dubai to surprise her and husband Rio at their new home – only to return to the UK soon after.
It comes as the star recently shared details surrounding her ‘isolated life’ overseas. Kate Ferdinand made the big move from Southeast London to Dubai with her husband Rio and their kids midway through August. Sharing a video of the moment Tate, 17, walked through the door and wrapped her in a hug before greeting Rio, 47, Kate said it was a moment she would never forget. Posting the clip, she wrote: “A memory I’ll cherish forever.”
Kate explained that the thoughtful surprise had left her in tears because of how much she misses Tate and his older brother Lorenz, 19, since the family’s recent move to the UAE.
While she has embraced life in Dubai, she admitted: “I love surprising people — honestly, I think I’m pretty good at it lol! So knowing that Tate went to all that effort to surprise us just feels so special. I’ve had the best two days, and now that he’s left I’m on a complete emotional spiral.”
Tate flew out to see Kate and Rio(Image: INSTAGRAM/xkateferdinand)
It was an emotional moment for Kate(Image: INSTAGRAM/xkateferdinand)
However, the 34-year-old TV star opened up about the struggles she faces away from parts of their family. She wrote: “We’re having the most amazing time in Dubai. The kids are happy, thriving, and safe, and that truly feels like such a blessing. But wow… I miss Lorenz and Tate so much. It’s hard to put it into words. Counting down the days until we’re reunited.”
Since their move, Kate has been keeping followers updated on their new chapter, sharing beachside photos, family outings, and visits from friends. In one recent post, she captioned a series of family snapshots: “Special times with our special people. Just missing our big boys.” The couple are now settled in an exclusive villa in Al Barari, a luxury gated community.
Kate and Rio Ferdinand have moved their family to Dubai(Image: Kate Ferdinand/Instagram)
Alongside Kate’s family updates, Rio has been open about his thoughts on the UK’s rising taxes and why more people appear to be leaving the country. Speaking on LBC, he questioned whether taxpayers were receiving value for money. “If things like the health service, for example, was absolutely flying and working perfectly well then I think people wouldn’t mind paying tax,” he said.
“But when there’s things that are falling apart and going wrong in the country, then I sit there and go, we pay towards tax and is it really going towards the things that are actually benefiting the people that live here?” He added: “And that’s the big question that needs answering. I think a lot of us know the answer to that.”
Meanwhile, Rio says living in Dubai was so the family could start a new chapter in their lives and spend more quality time at home. “My family are seeing me so much more and I’m spending some quality time with them and I think that’s just been a great thing for me,” he said. “I love England and I’m a patriotic guy in that sense, but a new journey, a new chapter, something different, I think is a refreshing new chapter in my life.”
He expanded on this in an interview with The National, explaining that Dubai offered a healthier balance for their children and for him after years of a schedule dictated by football fixtures. “Lifestyle, safety, weather and just a new life,” he said. “I’m not leaving football, but it’s just not the governing body of my life now. I’ve got to be honest, it feels nice.”
Kate and Rio share two young children, Cree and Shae, while Kate is stepmother to Lorenz, Tate and Tia, who remain in the UK as the boys continue their football development at Brighton & Hove Albion.
