Married At First Sight groom Mikey Pembroke has left Australia behind for a bold new chapter in Dubai, after quietly rebuilding his life following a difficult few years.

The former reality TV star, 33, revealed the news on Instagram on Thursday, sharing a photo of himself looking sharp in a navy blue suit as he announced his surprise return to real estate.

After stepping out of the spotlight and spending several years working as business director for his family’s company, Mikey admitted he has finally found his footing again after hitting rock bottom in some areas of his life.

The former groom, who was paired with Natasha Spencer on the reality dating series in 2020, has spent the past few months training hard, working on his mental and physical health and laying the foundations for a fresh start overseas.

In his announcement, Mikey told fans: ‘After a few years out of the game working for my family’s company, I’m back where it all began – Real Estate. But this time, I’ve returned to a whole new stage: one of the fastest growing cities in the world … Dubai.

‘This city is nothing short of spectacular – not only from an investment perspective but also for its unmatched quality of life, innovation, and the incredible things happening here every single day.

Married At First Sight groom Mikey Pembroke has left Australia behind for a bold new chapter in Dubai after quietly rebuilding his life following a difficult few years. Pictured with his TV bride Natasha Spencer

The former reality TV star, 33, revealed the news on Instagram on Thursday, sharing a photo of himself looking sharp in a navy blue suit as he announced his surprise return to real estate.

‘From iconic architecture to visionary projects shaping the future, Dubai truly stands apart.’

It marks a major turnaround for the former groom, who has been open about his personal struggles since appearing on the controversial Channel Nine dating show.

Before rejoining the property world, Mikey worked as an operations manager and spent years juggling pressure behind the scenes, including a particularly challenging stint in aged care during the pandemic.

After years of pressure, Mikey stepped back from public life to regain his balance and focus.

Mikey told Daily Mail that he wanted to relocate somewhere new and start fresh after a series of tough challenges.

He is now ‘the healthiest and most focused he’s ever been’, with Dubai representing a clean slate.

He explained: ‘2024 was full of massive challenges, just went through a break-up, relocating to the Gold Coast, resigning from my family business after 8 years, and a number of family issues.’

In 2021, Mikey took a break from drinking for several weeks, which did wonders for his physique.

After stepping out of the spotlight and spending several years working as business director for his family’s company, Mikey admitted he has finally found his footing again after hitting rock bottom in some areas of his life

Months later, he celebrated his decision to cut out alcohol from his life completely.

The one-time groom shot to fame on Married At First Sight’s seventh season, where his rocky relationship with Natasha made headlines.

Since then, he has kept a low profile, choosing to focus on family, business and self-improvement.

He previously made headlines in 2021 when he shared raw videos revealing the harsh reality of life on the frontline as Covid tore through facilities across Australia.