Kate and Rio relocated to Dubai last year
@Dave Benett/Getty Images for Burberry
She’s been open about her struggles since relocating to Dubai last year, recently admitting that while husband Rio loves their new life, she’s missing home a lot. And now, heat has learned that Kate Ferdinand has issued her other half an ultimatum.
‘Kate can’t see them being in Dubai forever. She has told Rio she will give it until the end of this year. Then, if she’s still unhappy, they have to reconsider, even if that means splitting their time between there and the UK or spending more time apart,’ says our source.
‘Kate has been very candid about her feelings and while she knows how lucky she is, she’s worried Dubai will never feel like home. She never particularly wanted to move out there full-time – it was all on Rio and the opportunities for his business and the kids. He has never been happier.’
Kate and Rio live in Dubai with three of their children ©Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Images
Kate, 35, and Rio, 36 – who owns a successful sports media company – moved to the UAE last year with hopes of a fresh start, but the former TOWIE star has failed to settle into her new home. Kate – who shares Cree, four, and Shae, two, with Rio – hasn’t shied away from sharing her reservations about the relocation.
Speaking on her Blended podcast earlier this month, she fought back tears as she spoke about being homesick. ‘I think it’s an amazing place to live, I think it’s amazing for the children. The children are thriving and happy and living a life of just outside freedom. Rio loves it so much. I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot. I can’t talk about it because I get upset,’ Kate said.
In January, Kate – who is also stepmum to Lorenz, 19, Tate, 17, and Tia, 14, from Rio’s first marriage to late wife Rebecca Ellison – revealed she was struggling with motivation following an overwhelming Christmas in the UK.
‘I don’t have that kickstart January feeling like I normally do,’ the former reality star said in an Instagram video, adding that she was ‘very emotional and fatigued’. She’s also made no secret of how much she misses her stepsons Lorenz and Tate, who both stayed in the UK to pursue careers in professional football.
And now, insiders say the situation is leaving Kate torn, and her worries about her stepsonsare only increasing. ‘Kate feels guilty about not enjoying Dubai like she should, but she can’t help how she feels and sometimes she feels her needs are put last. The younger kids are loving it, but they also had a very good life in the UK,’ we’re told.
‘The more she’s away from the older boys, the more upset she gets. She hates the fact they’re trying to get on with their careers and doing it alone. She worries people judge her for leaving them when they are still young. Rio is a lot harder than her and he’s said if the boys want to make it as footballers, they must make sacrifices.’
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And, withKate and Rio having such conflicting feelings, the pair are said to be struggling to understand one another.
‘Kate’s hoping this will pass, but she is starting to learn that being happy isn’t about being in the sun and going out to nice restaurants. She had a nice life in the UK and was building up her career, but Rio can’t understand why she’s not embracing Dubai as much as him,’ a source adds.
‘She’s not sure she can do this much longer, but if he had his way, he’d stay out there forever. He ideally wants the boys to play for a Saudi team rather than slogging it out to try and make it in the Premier League. Kate has said Rio needs to make more of an effort while she’s struggling and be a bit more understanding.’
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