Sir Mo Farah has made a permanent move with his family from the UK to Qatar, despite the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Farah and his family have been residing in Doha since 2024, following his retirement from running, and have now formalized their new residential status.
The 43-year-old athlete, along with his wife Tania and their four children, including stepdaughter Rihanna, twin daughters Aisha and Amani, and son Hussein, have relocated to the capital of Qatar. Recent reports from The Sun indicate that Farah has transitioned his residency from the UK to Qatar for his company, which boasts assets worth £3.9 million and paid £375,000 in tax and VAT in 2023. As a result of this move, the four-time Olympic gold medalist will be exempt from paying taxes.
This decision comes amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, with Qatar also being impacted by the situation, as Iran has targeted the country’s energy facilities using drones.
While more than 100,000 Britons have returned to the UK from the Middle East since the conflict began over a month ago, Farah and his family, who have a residence in Weybridge, Surrey, have opted to remain in Qatar. Having experienced tensions between the US and Iran last summer, the family aims to provide a safer environment for their children away from the turmoil.
Farah, who originally hails from Somalia and spent several years in Portland, Oregon during his athletic career, emphasized that the move to Qatar was primarily for his children to grow up without the pressures of celebrity public life. In an interview with The National, he expressed his desire to spend quality time with his family post-retirement, mentioning that relocating to Qatar was a natural progression to achieve this goal.
The athlete highlighted the importance of supporting his children in their endeavors and ensuring their happiness, stating that being in Qatar allows him to be more present in their lives while still being able to fulfill his professional obligations remotely.