All the clues homesick Kate Ferdinand was unhappy in Dubai as she tearfully admits struggling with move to Middle East

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As someone who’s navigated big life changes, I totally get what Kate Ferdinand is going through. She’s been honest about finding the transition to life in Dubai a bit tough, and she’s missing certain things about home in the UK – it’s completely normal to feel homesick when you’re building a new life somewhere different! It takes time to adjust, and it’s brave of her to share that vulnerability.

The 34-year-old former TOWIE star shared that she’s feeling homesick and misses her family, especially her stepsons who are focused on their football dreams.

Although Kate says she’s loved living in the UAE, there are hints that their experience hasn’t been as perfect as they initially thought.

The influencer shared that she was having a hard time adjusting after returning, especially since she missed the cozy feeling of Christmas in London and the comforts of home.

Kate has only returned home once since moving, but she did have a visit from an old friend a few months after she relocated.

She confessed it was difficult to say goodbye to her friend after enjoying their time together.

Last August, Kate, her husband Rio, and their family—including their children Shae, age two, and Cree, age five, and Rio’s daughter Tia, 14—relocated to Dubai.

His sons, Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, stayed in the UK to focus on their promising football careers and couldn’t join them.

Kate has been struggling with being apart from her sons, and this article explores the small clues she revealed before openly acknowledging how difficult it’s been.

Missing her stepsons 

Kate admitted that missing Lorenz and Tate has been particularly difficult since they moved, as she’d grown very close to them.

On a recent episode of the Blended podcast, Kate discussed the challenges her family faced after their move, especially how difficult it was being far away from her children.

She shared that Rio is having a wonderful time, and while she’s also enjoying herself, she’s feeling homesick and a bit down. She really misses her children and is finding it hard to be away from them.

Tate unexpectedly visited the couple in November. After he left, Kate shared with her followers that she was feeling emotionally fragile.

She posted a heartwarming video of Tate arriving home, and Kate reiterated how much she and the family enjoy their life overseas, but admitted she still finds it difficult being away from Tate and his brother, Lorenz.

Kate shared a heartwarming video of a hug with her daughter Tate before meeting Rio, her father, and wrote that she’ll always treasure the moment.

I really enjoy surprising people, and I think I’m good at it! So it means a lot to me that Tate put so much effort into surprising us. I’ve had an amazing couple of days, but now that he’s gone, I’m feeling really down.

We’re really enjoying our time in Dubai. It’s wonderful to see the kids so happy, healthy, and safe – we feel very lucky.

I really miss Lorenz and Tate – it’s difficult to explain how much. I can’t wait until we can all be together again and I’m eagerly anticipating their return.

Familiarity

Kate recently shared that she’s been longing for everyday things back home in the UK, like shopping at Marks & Spencer.

She posted pictures from a visit to one of the nine M&S stores nationwide, saying it felt cozy and like being home to shop there.

Kate said she was really happy to visit M&S and get some of their classic products, which helped make their new house feel more like home.

Kate has shared on her Blended podcast that she misses certain things about life in the UK, including her friends and family, as well as the weather and familiar English culture.

Kate shared that she longs for rainy weather and the feeling of cool air on her skin, explaining that Dubai’s warm, sunny climate is a big change from what she’s used to.

She’s expressed feeling homesick for England, specifically missing the familiar feeling of daily life and the cultural environment that formed her sense of belonging.

The family spent the Christmas holidays visiting relatives in London before returning to Dubai, where they now live.

Kate shared that she’s been feeling nostalgic, missing the simple things like people, rainy weather, and the fresh, cool air. She also expressed a longing for the unique culture and diverse population of England.

Readjusting after visiting home 

Kate shared that she’s been quite emotional since moving to her new home in January, following a particularly overwhelming Christmas spent in London.

She shared that she’s been feeling emotionally drained since December, like a lingering sadness that’s making it hard to be herself. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk about it, but ultimately decided to open up.

I’m just not feeling like myself lately. I’m lacking my usual motivation and feeling unusually emotional, and I don’t have the energy or enthusiasm I typically have at the start of a new year.

As a lifestyle expert and a parent myself, I completely understand the December rush! We all want to create that magical holiday season for our kids, but it’s so easy to get overwhelmed. Between planning Christmas, managing work, and just keeping up with daily life, it feels like there’s never enough time or energy. It’s a beautiful time of year, but it definitely comes with its challenges!

Holidays often mean reconnecting with family – both those we cherish and those we find difficult. It can be emotionally draining to revisit old family dynamics and slip back into childhood roles, sometimes leaving us feeling unsettled afterwards.

We often feel pressure to completely reinvent ourselves on January first, to become a ‘new person.’ But that’s not always realistic, and it can take time to make changes. I’m definitely not one of those people who jumps out of bed early to exercise when my body is telling me it needs rest.

Kate admitted she’s been feeling stressed about exercising, but she’s chosen to prioritize rest because her body is telling her it needs to slow down. She reminded her followers that it’s perfectly alright to not always feel good.

She continued: ‘I’ve been very emotional and I think it’s ok to not be ok.

I’ve been feeling really stressed lately, and I was planning to share my workout today. But honestly, I tried to exercise and just didn’t have the energy. My body feels completely drained and I couldn’t push myself through it.

I want to be real with you all. Many people struggle with the fact that even those we trust can sometimes disappoint us, and it’s not something people often talk about openly online. Just remember that no one is perfect, and difficult situations can arise unexpectedly.

January is a time for me to focus on self-care. I prioritize rest, avoid overexertion, and do things I enjoy. I’m comfortable saying ‘no’ to commitments and keeping my schedule open.

This month doesn’t need to be about fresh starts. Sending love and hoping you’re doing well, especially if you’re going through a tough time.

Kate shared some heartwarming Christmas photos, looking radiant and happy while posing with Rio and one of their kids near the Christmas tree.

In one photo, she and her child smiled brightly for the camera, and then she shared a heartwarming picture with her stepson, Lorenz.

My week has been a lovely mix of things! I squeezed in a Pilates session with the amazing Daniella Forbes, had some much-needed fun with my girlfriends, and spent quality time with my mom, Jacqueline – honestly, those moments are the best. It’s all about balancing wellness, friendships, and family, you know?

She shared photos and wrote that the week before Christmas in London was spent enjoying time with family and finishing up work for the year.

Needing time to ‘calm her nervous system’ 

Kate shared that she’s learning to pace herself after receiving supportive reactions to her honest post about feeling tired and overwhelmed by trying to do too much.

Kate expressed her gratitude to her fans for their kind messages, and many of her 1.4 million followers shared that they were feeling similarly.

She posted a heartwarming picture of herself enjoying a sunny walk with one of her kids, and shared a message of gratitude. She said she was touched by everyone’s support and realized many people were going through similar experiences.

It’s funny how life sometimes makes us pause and catch our breath. I’m used to moving so quickly, so adjusting to a slower pace is taking some getting used to.

Before this, Kate posted a video blog about a relaxing day at home in her pajamas, where she made pizza and gave her kids some special treats.

She proudly displayed her spacious home, featuring sleek, modern rooms, a comfortable lounge with a very large TV, and a beautiful entrance.

Kate revealed that she was taking the time to ‘reset her nervous system’ after a chaotic few weeks. 

In a recent post, she shared what true self-care means to her: prioritizing rest by staying home in pajamas, enjoying Netflix without guilt, ordering pizza, keeping things simple, and choosing relaxation over trying to be productive.

Your body doesn’t focus on how good your workout looks; it responds to whether you’re truly giving it the things it needs to function well.

The video featured snippets of her children enjoying their beautiful new home.

Missing friends

Kate and her friend Lisa, who had known Rio’s late wife Rebecca, were sad to be separated after Kate traveled to visit the Ferdinand family.

Kate said she’d known Lisa for about eight or nine years, and she never imagined they’d become such good friends.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m all about creating those truly special moments, and I recently had one of my own! I just wrapped up 11 amazing days with a dear friend visiting – one of my besties, actually. We’d secretly planned a surprise for our kids, having her and her children come into town. Seeing their reactions was incredible – so much joy, and honestly, a lot of happy tears! It was one of those memories I’ll cherish forever.

Kate shared a glimpse of their holiday, posting photos of the family enjoying time together at the beach.

Sharing a picture of them together in the post, Kate wrote: ‘Miss you already’. 

The TV star shared a recent photo with a heartfelt message: ‘Enjoying precious moments with loved ones, and wishing our sons could be here.’

Kate recently shared that although she’s loved living in Dubai, she’s found it difficult being away from her two oldest sons.

She expressed feeling like things have changed and they’re seeing the world in a new way. However, she also shared her strong affection for London and the UK, highlighting how much she enjoys many aspects of the country.

‘I do feel happy in Dubai, but I’m just missing a part of me.’

Kate also mentioned that stepping down from his job as a sports commentator for TNT Sports last year has allowed Rio to spend more quality time with his family.

She described it as a wonderful place to live, especially for kids. She said her children were doing well, happy, and enjoying a lot of outdoor freedom.

Rio is really enjoying his time, and I’m having fun too, but I’m also feeling homesick and a bit down. I especially miss my sons and it’s been hard being away from them.

I’m confident this is the best move for my younger kids, and we’re happy with where we’ve settled as a family. My sons are pursuing their dreams with their football careers, and that’s why they aren’t living with us right now – they’re following their passions.

It’s really difficult because we’re a close family and have always relied on each other, so this change is a big challenge.

Oh my gosh, Kate just said that she and her family actually feel way safer in Dubai than back home in the UK! Can you believe it? But, and this is so weirdly endearing, she even admitted she’s starting to miss the gloomy English weather! Like, can you even imagine? It’s just…so Kate, you know?

She added: ‘If I could merge the two worlds together it would be absolutely perfect.

I’m feeling nostalgic for a lot of things. I miss being around people, and simple things like the rain and fresh, cool air. I especially miss the unique atmosphere and diverse people of England.

I also appreciate that Dubai exposes my children to a wide variety of cultures as they grow up.

Kate explained that the move has been good for Rio, allowing for a better work-life balance. While he’s been traveling frequently recently, he’s now fully present and engaged when he’s home, unlike before when work often consumed his time.

We mostly just go for walks now. We used to spend a lot of time together, but I didn’t realize how independent we were until things slowed down and our schedule became less full.

He helps with school drop-off and pick-up quite often, which is really sweet of him. I’m doing okay, just getting used to things.

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2026-02-05 17:09