Kate Ferdinand has confessed to struggling with homesickness after moving to Dubai last August, describing the relocation as a “huge adjustment” that has left her feeling isolated. In a recent episode of her podcast, Blended, the 34-year-old broke down in tears while admitting she misses her loved ones back in the UK.
The former reality star and her husband, ex-England footballer Rio Ferdinand, 47, relocated to the UAE with their children Cree, five, and Shae, two, as well as Rio’s daughter Tia, 14. However, Rio’s older sons Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, remained in the UK to pursue their football careers, a decision that has added to Kate’s distress. “I miss the big boys a lot and I’m struggling with that,” she said on her podcast.
A source close to the family claims Kate finds Dubai “soulless” and is not enjoying life there despite the lavish lifestyle. “She’s struggling. She’s really missing home. It’s just not home,” the insider said. Kate admitted that while her husband is “loving” his new life, she feels a part of her is missing. She also hinted at the pressure of juggling stepchildren and her own kids without family support, describing her routine as “non-stop.”
The couple live in a £6.5 million mansion in the Al Barari gated community, but Kate is wary of appearing ungrateful. “It’s difficult, because she doesn’t want to come across as spoilt,” the source added. Last month, after returning from a Christmas trip to the UK, she posted about feeling “fatigue” and pressure to get back to the gym.
Despite the struggles, Kate and Rio recently became the first British couple to appear on the covers of both Women’s Health and Men’s Health UK magazines simultaneously. Kate credited humour for their relationship success, saying: “We wind each other up constantly. In our home, everyone gets in on it. I feel like it makes for a happy house.”
