After two seasons, The Real Housewives of Dubai was paused, leaving fans uncertain about the future of the show. The hiatus of the RHODubai prompted a lot of speculation about what ultimately caused the reality TV show to be put on pause as well.

One cast member of the RHODubai has been especially vocal about the show and the “pause”—Caroline Brooks. Caroline was one of the original housewives who joined the 11th iteration of the Real Housewives franchise in 2022 and was front-and-center when the hiatus was announced.

Caroline has since opened up about why the RHODubai was halted and, while she put rumors to rest, her comments reveal more drama behind the scenes than people realized. Here’s what she had to say.

The Real Housewives Of Dubai Was Paused In November 2024 With Vague Explanations

When the Real Housewives of Dubai was first halted, it wasn’t clear when—or if—the show would return. Executive producer Andy Cohen said “it’s just smart business,” explaining further that:

“We have a lot of Housewives going right now. And it’s one of the reasons it took so long to get The Real Housewives of Atlanta going, and one of the reasons we’re in a deep pause with The Real Housewives of New Jersey. We just want to make sure we get everything right and be very deliberate with everything we’re doing.”

Not everyone was convinced, however. Lower ratings than other installments of the Real Housewives franchise, especially the drop from Season 1 to 2, accompanied an outcry over human rights issues in Dubai. Concerns over the treatment of women, the ongoing conflict with Yemen, and homophobia in the United Arab Emirates all resulted in boycotts of the show.

Cast members Nina Ali (Season 1) and Sara Al Madani responded to criticism of the RHODubai in 2022. Nina told Emirates Woman that many viewers “didn’t understand that this is a franchise name,” noting that the idea of depicting so-called “real housewives” in Dubai was necessarily misconstrued. She said,

Ali’s comments were along those same lines, noting that the RHODubai wasn’t,

Caroline Brooks Clarified What Happened Behind The Scenes Of The RHODubai From Her Perspective

In January 2025, the RHODubai‘s Caroline Brooks opened up about why the show was really put on hiatus. She addressed speculation that there were legal issues related to restrictions in Dubai, specifically stating on social media:

Then, Caroline responded to rumors that jealousy, editing, and in-fighting doomed the RHODubai, admitting that the show “felt toxic, overly orchestrated, and many were hiding their true identities.”

That said, Caroline also made it clear that the seemingly “silly” drama on the show is exactly “why people tune in… what you see is what they want you to see. Don’t forget that.”

In an ongoing exchange with fans on social media about the pause of the RHODubai, Caroline Brooks dismissed ideas that she would not be brought back for future seasons. She also shot down ideas that the feud between cast members Chanel Ayan and Lesa Milan contributed to its potential end.

According to Lesa, however, Caroline is “a really loyal friend, and I’m still not her biggest fan. I don’t trust that girl as far as I can throw her,” so that’s important to keep in mind.

When one fan praised the RHODubai for showcasing “real friendships, BIG RICH MONEY, and [being] so refreshing and interesting, Caroline was similarly dismissive:

At the end of the second season of the RHODubai, there was enough drama to propel the show forward. At the reunion, Caroline Brooks and Taleen Marie engaged in name-calling, while the other members of the cast took jabs at each other’s fashion, skincare, and relationships amid tears and pettiness.

With an apparent lack of enthusiasm from Caroline Brooks about the show and continued concerns about the messaging and setting, the future of the RHODubai remains unclear and there’s no decision on the horizon.