Rio Ferdinand, the legendary former Manchester United defender, recounted the terrifying moment when Iran bombarded Dubai, forcing him to shelter with his children in a refuge.
On 3 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United defender who moved to live in the United Arab Emirates last August with his wife and children (Kree, 5, Zee, 2, and Tia, 14), revealed the tense moments they faced in Dubai. After multiple missile attacks by Iran, he and his family had to take refuge in a basement amid terrifying explosions and the thunderous sound of fighter jets.
Rio said on his podcast “Rio Ferdinand Presents,” “To be honest, it was a very frightening situation when you hear those sounds. The key was to explain to the kids and keep everyone as calm as possible. As a father, you have to stay composed first.”
“The situation was quite scary. My studio turned into a bunker. We were advised to come down to the basement as soon as we heard strange noises. We stayed there with blankets and survival supplies.”
Meanwhile, Kate Ferdinand, former star of the show Towie, posted on Instagram that the family is safe after a frightening night. Although feeling anxious, she expressed confidence in the government’s handling of the situation and hoped for calmer nights ahead. She thanked everyone for their prayers and sent support to those affected by the incident.
She also shared a charming detail about the children, saying they were very excited because they thought they were having a sleepover, all sleeping together in the basement. But for the adults, it was truly a difficult time.
Rio’s two sons, Laurence, 19, and Tate, 17, did not move to Dubai with the family as they are pursuing football careers in the United Kingdom.