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, who has resided in Doha with his family since 2024, has now officially changed his residency status.
The 43-year-old athlete and his wife Tania have four children: stepdaughter Rihanna, twin girls Aisha and Amani, and son Hussein. Following his retirement from running, they relocated to Doha, the capital of Qatar, and are now solidifying their move.
According to The Sun, Farah has transitioned his residency from the UK to Qatar in official documentation for his company, which boasts assets totaling £3.9 million and paid £375,000 in taxes and VAT in 2023. By shifting his residency to Qatar, the four-time Olympic gold medalist will be exempt from taxes.
This move comes amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with Qatar being drawn into the turmoil as Iran targets the country’s energy facilities with drones. Over 100,000 Britons have returned to the UK from the Middle East since the conflict began over a month ago. Farah and his family own a residence in Weybridge, Surrey, and have experienced the tensions of war, having witnessed hostilities between the US and Iran last summer.
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 become worrisome due to potential dangers for his children.
Originally from Somalia, Farah moved to the UK as a child and spent seven years in Portland, Oregon, during his athletic career. He explained that the relocation to Qatar was primarily for his children to grow up away from the public scrutiny of celebrity life.
In a later interview with The National in November, Farah shared his positive experience in Qatar, emphasizing the importance of spending quality time with his family after retiring from running. He highlighted the ease of being with his family in Qatar and supporting his children in their endeavors, underscoring the happiness and fulfillment he finds in his current lifestyle.