The reality TV star and her family heard loud explosions in DubaiPhoebe Jobling Property Writer and Carla Feric Press Association Entertainment Reporter
19:26, 01 Mar 2026Updated 19:36, 01 Mar 2026
Kate and Rio Ferdinand left the UK for Dubai in 2025(Image: Kate Ferdinand Instagram)
Kate Ferdinand has revealed that her family had a ‘very scary night’ at their home in Dubai but confirmed they are all ‘safe’ following Iran’s retaliation to the US-Israeli assault.
Iranian missiles have struck several Middle Eastern nations including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait in response to Saturday morning’s US and Israel attacks, which resulted in the death of Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The reality TV star, 34, and her husband, former footballer Rio Ferdinand, moved to Dubai last year with their young children, and the couple are amongst a number of celebrities living in the region as missiles continue to rain down.
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Sharing a message to her 1.4 million Instagram followers on Sunday (March 1), Kate wrote: “Thank you for all of your messages and sorry for the silence, I haven’t wanted to worry you all I just haven’t been able to find the words. We are safe.
“The government are doing an amazing job of keeping it that way and despite my nerves I feel we are in very safe hands. We are hoping for a calmer evening tonight, last night was very scary.”
Discussing her young children, the former The Only Way Is Essex star commented: “Although, Cree and Shae loved it as they couldn’t believe we all got a sleepover in the basement. Thank you for all of your prayers, this whole experience is very eye opening and I am praying for anyone affected. Lots of love to everyone.”
Kate sent an update to her followers from Dubai(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Meanwhile, former Love Island star Arabella Chi, who lives in Dubai with her daughter Gigi, said the conflict “puts into perspective a lot of things”.
The model took to Instagram to share a video with her 1.2 million followers, expressing gratitude for their support during “such a scary time”, and described hearing “petrifying” explosions from her Dubai home. “I feel like the past 24 hours has just been something that I’ve never experienced in my life. Obviously, we are safe,” she said.
Loud booming sounds could be heard throughout the clip, with the TV personality adding: “The bangs are obviously going off right now. Gigi is at an age where she obviously doesn’t understand what’s going on, which is a big blessing.” She continued: “Last night, we literally saw (explosions) coming from not far from our house, and it was petrifying.”
Former Geordie Shore cast member Sam Gowland revealed he had been kept awake throughout the night at his Dubai villa by the persistent “banging”. In an Instagram story post on Sunday, he wrote: “Wow, so scary last night. I hardly slept with all the banging.
“This mornings’ wake-up call was at 7.30am with two more rockets going over my villa. Going to be a crazy day. Can’t really tell you the feeling you get from the noises, I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
He also shared a video urging people to “think before they speak”, highlighting the negative commentary he had encountered online regarding the unfolding situation. He said: “Why would you wish any of this upon people? Let me tell you something, being here in Dubai last night and this morning was bloody scary. It still is now, it’s very tense. It’s very quiet. No one’s outside. I can’t really describe it, I’ve never been in any situation like this before.”