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Rio and Kate Ferdinand have made a swift exit from their Dubai residence amid escalating tensions and have sought refuge in their opulent holiday retreat in Portugal, as we can disclose.
The former football icon, now 47, along with his wife Kate, a recognized reality television personality, decided to leave their £6.5 million property in Dubai. Their departure follows a spate of attacks involving suicide drones and missiles from Iran that have disturbed the peace of the desert city.
Over the weekend, Rio Ferdinand shared a glimpse of his new surroundings on social media. In a photo where he appears bare-chested and relaxed, he is seen enjoying a Portuguese Super Bock beer on a sun-drenched terrace. Accompanying the image, he cheekily commented on the Premier League standings, saying, “That feeling when Liverpool + Chelsea drop points in the race for the top 4,” complete with two clinking beer glass emojis.
He wrapped up his post with a cheerful note, wishing everyone a “Happy Saturday!” This snapshot was taken at their villa located in the Algarve, near the prestigious Quinta do Lago area. It’s not just a serene escape but also a place where Rio conducts summer football camps and where the couple, along with their children, enjoyed their previous summer holiday.
The selfie was taken at the villa the star owns on the Algarve near Quinta do Lago where he runs summer football camps, and where he and Kate spent last summer on holiday with their children.
The couple made the move to Dubai with his daughter Tia, 13, from his first marriage to late wife Rebecca and their two children together son Cree, five and daughter Shae, two.
Ferdinand – who quit as a pundit for TNT last year – has two older sons, Lorenz, 19 and Tate, 17, who remained in the UK.
Shortly after they upped sticks, Kate wrote how she was pining for the UK and wrote: ‘I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot.
On Saturday Rio Ferdinand posted a picture of himself bare-chested on his socials, sipping a bottle of Portuguese Super Bock beer on a sun kissed terrace and wrote: ‘That feeling when Liverpool + Chelsea drop points in the race for the top 4’
The Man United legend, alongside wife Kate, 34, moved their life to the UAE in August last year, but the area has been targeted by Iran
‘I get upset. I miss the big boys a lot and I’m just struggling with that. I know this decision is right for my younger children and as a family we are settled there, but the boys are following their football careers.
‘So, they’re doing what they want to do otherwise they’d be with us. But it’s very hard because we’ve been through so much as a family and we’ve always been together and that’s a huge adjustment.’
Then earlier this month, speaking about living in Dubai during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, she said: ‘The kids have shorter days, my children are going to school from 8.45am and they get picked up at 1pm, so like they’re doing half days.
‘Everything changes, I like the energy, it’s quite calming – not when the kids come back at 1pm by the way – it’s just something that I’ve not experienced before.
‘It’s a different vibe and I feel like living in a country with different religions and so many different cultures, you learn so much and pick up so much.
‘My children are learning things that they wouldn’t… they might learn it in the UK, but they wouldn’t actively be living it. That’s something that I really love about Dubai.’
Earlier this month on her Mother’s Day special podcast, former TOWIE star Kate addressed the situation in Dubai and wrote on her Instagram page: ‘This episode was recorded on February 26th February, before the recent conflict in the Middle East.
‘As mums and as a podcast that talks about family life, our hearts are with everyone affected by the devasting events that have unfolded since this recording.’
Before leaving Kate also appeared to follow the line of other influencers insisting they were in the good hands of the authorities
The couple made the move to Dubai with his daughter Tia, 13, from his first marriage to late wife Rebecca and their two children together son Cree, five and daughter Shae, two
Drones have rained down on Dubai – sending Brit influencers fleeingÂ
Ferdinand had spoken of how he and the family had taken cover in a bomb shelter in the first few days as missiles and drones rained down on Dubai from nearby Iran.
Speaking on his podcast he said: ‘It’s frightening when you hear missiles, planes and fighter jets and you’re hearing bombs.
‘It’s telling your kids what it is and helping them navigate through this moment, which is important especially as the dad of the house. You want to try and remain calm.’
He added: ‘I’ve got to be honest guys; it’s been quite scary situation but at the same time weirdly enough I’ve felt very secure and looked after. My studio has become a bunker.
‘We were advised to go into the basement… and we were down here sleeping with duvets and stuff.’
Before leaving Kate also appeared to follow the line of other influencers insisting they were in the good hands of the authorities telling her followers: ‘Thank you for all of your messages and sorry for the silence.
‘We are safe. The government are doing an amazing job of keeping it that way and despite my nerves I feel we are in safe hands.’
The Ferdinand family swapped their home in Bromley, south east London for a luxury villa with a pool last summer in the exclusive gated community of Al Barari and have posted images of themselves enjoying al fresco dinners and enjoying the nightlife.
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Are influencers right to reassure followers during conflict – or does it risk downplaying real danger?
Ferdinand had spoken of how he and the family had taken cover in a bomb shelter in the first few days as missiles and drones rained down on Dubai from nearby Iran
The Ferdinand family swapped their home in Bromley, south east London for a luxury villa with a pool last summer in the exclusive gated community of Al Barari and have posted images of themselves enjoying al fresco dinners and enjoying the nightlife
But they left within days of the bombing campaign – along with other tax-free influencers who had praised the crime-free lifestyle – including Luisa Zissman, star of The Apprentice.
She had been vocal of her support for the Dubai authorities but has since returned to her £8 million Hertfordshire home with her children – shamelessly posting to her followers that she was in her ‘refugee era’.
Luisa, 38, also revealed how her dog Crumble was still in Dubai – as well as he six horses who she hopes to fly back to the UK after splashing out £25,000 on a private jet to fly them to safety.
At the start of the conflict she had toed the local line and posted that Dubai was the safest country in the world despite explosions echoing across the city and drone strikes at the airport.
She wrote she had ‘faith’ in the Dubai defence systems, that it would ‘keep residents safe’ and added:’ Everything is largely fine. When you’re here it’s fine.’
Others who have left Dubai include former Love Island star Sam Gowland, 30, who left for Mauritius – just days after revealing he was planning to sell his newly built mansion in the city for £2 million.
Socialite Petra Ecclestone, 37, also joined the exodus from Dubai, with her husband Sam Palmer and their four young children – although she insisted she was not trying to ‘escape’.
Petra, daughter of F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, had only arrived in Dubai two months ago, and said on Instagram: ‘It hasn’t gone quite as smoothly as we imagined, and there have definitely been a few unexpected hurdles along the way.
‘But as always, we faced them together as a family and got through it,’ adding ‘I also want to clear something up – we didn’t “escape” because of the circumstances people have been speculating about.
‘It was simply the only flight we could get that would get us there in time for (daughter) Lavinia’s horse shows in Europe. One thing we’re very grateful for is how much Dubai puts safety first – and how welcomed and safe it has made us feel during this transition.’
Others who have fled include Sophia Peschisolido, 28, daughter of Apprentice judge Karren Brady, who moved to Dubai in 2021 with her husband Frankie Makin, US actress Lindsay Lohan also left as did Real Housewives of Cheshire star Taylor Ward.
Those that have stayed include Katie Price’s new husband Andrew Lee, British singer Jamelia, controversial influencer HS Tikky Tokky, Love Island star Arabella Chi and boxer Amir Khan but the key question is for how long.