Sir Mo Farah has relocated his family to Qatar permanently, departing from the UK despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Farah and his family have resided in Doha since 2024 and have now formalized their move.
The 43-year-old, along with his wife Tania and their four children – stepdaughter Rihanna, twin daughters Aisha and Amani, and son Hussein – made the decision to shift to Doha, the capital of Qatar, following his retirement from professional running.
According to The Sun, Farah has transitioned his residency from the UK to Qatar for his business, which holds assets worth £3.9 million and paid £375,000 in taxes and VAT in 2023. By relocating to Qatar, the quadruple Olympic gold medalist will be exempt from taxes.
This development occurs amidst ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the war between Israel, the United States, and Iran. Qatar has been impacted by this conflict, with Iran targeting the country’s energy facilities using drones.
In light of the situation, over 100,000 British citizens have returned to the UK from the Middle East since the conflict began over a month ago. Farah and his family maintain a residence in Weybridge, Surrey, and have experienced the repercussions of war, having witnessed tensions between the US and Iran last year.
In an interview with The Telegraph in July, following an Iranian missile strike on a US base in Qatar, Farah expressed his concerns about safety, stating that living in London had raised worries due to the unpredictability of events.
Originally from Somalia, Farah moved to the UK at the age of eight and spent seven years in Portland, Oregon, during his athletic career. He previously mentioned that the move to Qatar aimed to provide his children with a more private and peaceful upbringing away from the public eye.
Speaking to The National in November, Farah shared his enjoyment of spending quality time with his family in Qatar. He emphasized the importance of supporting his children’s aspirations and providing a stable environment for them. Farah expressed contentment with the current setup, highlighting the ease of balancing family life with his professional commitments in the new location.