It has been six months since Rio Ferdinand and his household relocated to Dubai, however there could possibly be hassle in paradise because of homesickness.
Talking earlier this month, his spouse Kate revealed she is ‘struggling’ within the Center East and broke down in tears admitting she’s ‘lacking her household’.
In a brand new episode of her Blended podcast, the 34-year-old confessed that whereas Dubai has been an ‘wonderful’ place to reside, she’s ‘struggled’ with being other than his two eldest sons Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, who’ve stayed within the UK.
Kate and Rio, 47, made the transfer with the footballer’s daughter Tia, 14, from his first marriage to his late spouse Rebecca, and their two kids collectively, son Cree, 5, and daughter Shae, two.
She mentioned: ‘I really feel like we have opened our eyes to a special world. However I like London, I like the UK. I like so many issues concerning the UK.
‘I do really feel pleased in Dubai, however I am simply lacking part of me.’
Rio Ferdinand (pictured together with his spouse Kate) swapped life in England for Dubai final August
Talking earlier this month Kate revealed she is ‘struggling’ for the reason that transfer, breaking down in tears as she admitted she’s ‘lacking her household’
In a brand new episode of her Blended podcast, Kate has confessed that whereas Dubai has been an ‘wonderful’ place to reside, she’s ‘struggled’ with being other than Rio’s two eldest sons
And whereas Kate could miss her homeland, it’s unlikely {that a} everlasting return to the UK will occur within the close to future for a number of causes in relation to her husband.
Spending time with household
Talking on LBC Radio in November, Rio revealed that the swap has allowed him to spend extra time together with his household – labelling it as ‘refreshing’.
‘My household are seeing me a lot extra and I am spending some high quality time with them and I feel that is simply been an awesome factor for me,’ he mentioned.
‘I like England and I am a patriotic man in that sense, however a brand new journey, a brand new chapter, one thing completely different, I feel is a refreshing new chapter in my life.’
These feedback come off the again of an interview in The National in August when he delved deeper concerning the alternatives obtainable for his three youngest kids.
‘I considered transferring, then we went again once more in February [2025] for a bit of take a look at the faculties simply in case and it simply pricked my thoughts to consider it,’ he mentioned.
‘That was virtually like a giant kicker for me as a result of the schooling system felt completely different, felt higher for my youngsters. The youngsters who’re coming are 14, which is ideal as a result of it is their two years of GCSEs beginning this August.
‘Then we have a 4 and a two-year-old, so it is excellent timing for them as effectively. And the curriculum is English curriculum, but it surely’s simply achieved a special manner. I really feel the lecturers within the UK really feel a bit of bit like undervalued, underpaid.’
Rio Ferdinand stop TNT Sports activities final Might with the intention to spend extra time with household
Ferdinand’s son Lorenz, 19, signed his first skilled contract with Brighton final summer time
Household dwelling
Moreover, the Ferdinands have a stupendous household mansion in Dubai to boost the youngsters.
As detailed by the Each day Mail final 12 months, the couple discovered their new dwelling within the unique gated group of Al Barari, with the posh property listed for 32.5million dirhams (£6,550,310) as of final April.
Taking to her Instagram in December, Kate shared a vlog the place she had a calming pyjama day and handled the youngsters to pizza and treats.
She confirmed off the massive home with its trendy interiors, cosy lounge with a huge TV display and stylish entrance solution to the mansion.
In December, Kate gave her followers a glimpse inside her lavish £6.5million mansion in Dubai
She confirmed off the massive lounge space and large TV as she relaxed in the home along with her household
Work alternatives
‘I needed a brand new chapter and I have been doing TNT (TV) since I retired for the final 10-11 years,’ he added to The Nationwide.
‘After I made the choice, I assumed “this should be 30 years when my life is pushed by the fixture checklist”. Not now. I am not leaving soccer, but it surely’s simply not the governing physique of my life now. I’ve bought to be trustworthy, it feels good.’
Koora
One among Ferdinand’s enterprise ventures within the Center East is the sports activities platform Koora Break – one of many Center East’s first Arabic-language apps.
In December 2024, it was introduced that the Ferdinand Group (TFG), a sports activities and leisure funding firm owned by the ex-player, acquired a minority stake in Koora Break, described because the fastest-growing soccer app within the Center East and north Africa.
Established in 2022, by the point of Ferdinand’s funding that platform had 800 million guests monthly.
The intention of Ferdinand’s funding is to develop its attain throughout Europe and Asia as effectively assist develop its profile forward of the 2034 World Cup.
‘Everybody was saying, effectively what are you doing? It is only a quick rising place,’ he mirrored concerning the enterprise alternatives within the Center East to Bloomberg TV in November.
‘We have seen with all the funding that is going, when it comes to media, soccer, sport on the whole,’ Ferdinand mentioned. ‘It is loopy the expansion there.’
Qatar Airways
One other Center East enterprise, Ferdinand had a relationship with is Qatar Airways. The ex-England centre again has starred in adverts for them and in November he helped associate up with the airline to launch their youth empowerment initiative referred to as Qatar Airways United.
It’s to assist community-building alternatives for under-resourced teams, the programme goals to construct confidence and ambition in younger folks.
Up to now this has included entry to Inter Milan vs AC Milan and the F1 Qatar Grand Prix in November in addition to Paris Saint-Germain vs Marseille earlier this month.
The Champions League remaining in Budapest in Might and World Cup remaining in New York in July may even be on the checklist.
Relationships with Cristiano Ronaldo and different stars
Regardless of leaving TNT final season, Ferdinand’s ardour for sport remains to be on present as he continues to rub shoulders with the celebrities within the Center East.
The most important instance of that’s Cristiano Ronaldo. The previous Manchester United team-mates have been seen in unison collectively loads of instances – with Ferdinand typically watching the Portuguese play for Al-Nassr within the Saudi Professional League. Along with that Ronaldo has been a visitor on Ferdinand’s YouTube channel and vice-versa.
It is not simply Ronaldo although Ferdinand has been seen with within the Center East with the likes of Lamine Yamal, Novak Djokovic and Steven Gerrard having hung out with him – in addition to Hollywood star Kevin Hart and American report producer and rapper Swizz Beatz.
Ferdinand sits down with Cristiano Ronaldo on the latter’s YouTube channel within the Center East
And naturally… tax causes
Talking in November, Rio defined why an upturn in UK residents are migrating to locations to the UK – citing tax causes.
The Ferdinand’s strikes final got here after Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced £40billion of tax rises on companies and the wealthy in her 2024 Price range. Inside that noticed an increase in capital beneficial properties tax, inheritance tax and VAT on personal faculties.
Talking as a visitor on LBC Radio, the Manchester United and England legend mentioned the tax sanctions on UK residents – arguing that they don’t profit most of the people.
Ferdinand mentioned: ‘If issues just like the well being service, for instance, was completely flying and dealing completely effectively then I feel folks would not thoughts paying tax.
‘However when there’s issues which might be falling aside and going fallacious within the nation, then I sit there and go, we pay in the direction of tax and is it actually going in the direction of the issues which might be truly benefiting the folks that reside right here?
‘And that is the massive query that wants answering. I feel numerous us know the reply to that.’
