Rio Ferdinand shares family's feelings about life in Dubai with wife Kate planning UK return

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has opened up on his life in Dubai after his wife admitted she's homesick . Ferdinand, 47, Kate, 34, and their children traded London for the region last summer. However, the family were forced to briefly flee their £6.5million residence earlier this year due to the conflict that engulfed the Middle East . The family decided to temporarily relocate to Portugal, London and the Maldives, after sheltering in the basement of their Dubai home following Iranian missile strikes in the region. They've since returned to the country, with Ferdinand offering an insight into his life in the Arab state. Speaking to The Times , he said: "My kids are having a real-life adventure [in Dubai]. My eldest daughter is 14. She loves that she’s got a bit more freedom here than she would have had in London. My five-year-old boy likes that he gets to play more football. The kids are absolutely loving the outdoor-living aspect." Ferdinand and Kate have a family of five children: the two children they had together, Cree and Shae and children from his marriage to his late wife, Rebecca Ellison: Lorenz, Tate and Tia. FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page Ferdinand and Kate met in Dubai in 2016 while on separate holidays and married in September 2019. Despite their reported love for their life away from the UK, a source close to Kate has claimed she is still uncertain about the region due to the ongoing threat brought on by the USA and Israel's joint military offensive across the Middle East. An insider told Heat : "While he is thrilled to be back in Dubai, Kate is putting on a brave face. She feels she’s going through the motions at the moment. Rio has assured her it’s now safe, but she is still scared." The report also claims Kate will be heading back to the UK for the summer and that she could also spent time in Portugal while Rio is away working in the United States for the World Cup. Speaking on her Blended podcast in February, Kate broke down in tears after admitting she has "struggled" living in Dubai. “I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot,” she admitted. “I can’t talk about it because I get upset. I feel like we’ve opened our eyes to a different world . But I love London. I do feel happy in Dubai, but I’m just missing a part of me.” An insider claimed to the Mirror in February: “She’s struggling. She’s really missing home. She’s not enjoying it. And even though she’s got the kids and she’s got Rio there, she’s homesick. She can’t stop it and it’s very difficult. It’s just not home.” After retiring from the game in 2015, six-time Premier League winner Ferdinand delved into punditry, becoming a mainstay on UK screens with TNT Sports. He left that role behind in the summer of 2025 to focus on his personal life and to run Rio Ferdinand Presents, his own YouTube channel. Ferdinand has also been part of the BBC's World Cup coverage team since 2014, contributing to their coverage of the last four major tournaments. Yet this year, the former Leeds United star has vastly different plans for the tournament that's being held in North America, Canada and Mexico. He told The Times: "This World Cup is the first time I am going to a tournament as a fan. I’m looking forward to being able to take it in. "Normally, I’ve got to do loads of research and have a massive A4 booklet with all the names, stats and data. I’m staying in an Airbnb for the whole tournament with my mates, which is going to be unreal. I can chill, watch the games and have a barbecue. It’s like a lads’ holiday." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.