Olympic legend Mo Farah says a visit to Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup convinced him to relocate permanently with his family, citing faith, safety, privacy and a better environment to raise his children.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah says faith, family life and the opportunity to raise his children in a Muslim country were the driving forces behind his decision to relocate permanently to Qatar after retiring from athletics.
Speaking on a recent podcast, the British distance-running legend said he had long planned to spend his retirement in a Muslim country where his children could grow up with a stronger connection to their faith while enjoying a quieter family life.
“I’ve always said that when I do retire, I want to live in a Muslim country, enjoy myself, let my kids grow up knowing about the Deen, teach about the Deen, all that stuff,” Farah said.
The 42-year-old former Olympic star explained that his outlook changed after attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Invited by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, chairman of Paris Saint-Germain, Farah travelled to Doha to watch England’s World Cup match against the United States before later returning with members of his family for the tournament’s semifinal and final.
According to Farah, those visits became a turning point for his family.
“For me, the biggest change was when I came here during the World Cup. I got invited by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi… I came out for England against USA. My two girls went back out, I brought my son for the semi-final and the final… bro, we loved it,” he said.
Farah said the experience convinced him that Qatar offered exactly the kind of environment he had hoped to find after ending his athletics career.
Following the tournament, he began bringing his family to Doha during school holidays, particularly during the December break, when life in Britain became busier.
“And then I said to my kids, ‘Kids, listen, December times, schools close, England’s busy, come out here for holiday.’ We came out here for holiday, and my kids absolutely love this country just because of what it gives them, and they can be their self,” he said.
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Those repeated visits gradually transformed family holidays into a long-term decision to settle permanently in Qatar.
Farah, who relocated to Doha in 2024 before officially changing his residency this year, said retirement has allowed him to spend more time with his wife, Tania, and their four children after years of international competition kept him away from home for extended periods.
The Olympic champion said one of the biggest advantages of living in Qatar has been the privacy it offers. After decades as one of Britain’s most recognisable athletes, he believes his family can now enjoy a more peaceful daily life away from the constant public attention that accompanied his sporting career.
Farah has also previously said he believes his children are safer in Qatar than in London, explaining that he had become increasingly concerned about raising a family in Britain amid rising public safety concerns.
Although his move has also attracted attention because Qatar does not impose personal income tax, Farah has consistently maintained that financial considerations were not the primary motivation behind relocating. Instead, he has repeatedly described the move as one centred on family, faith and quality of life.
Born in Somaliland before moving to Britain as a child, Farah overcame extraordinary hardship to become one of the greatest distance runners in Olympic history. He won four Olympic gold medals, six world championship titles and established himself as one of Britain’s most celebrated athletes.
Since retiring from competitive athletics in 2023, Farah has shifted his focus from elite sport to family life while continuing to serve as an ambassador for athletics and charitable causes.
His decision to make Qatar his permanent home marks a new chapter built around family, faith and personal fulfilment. For Farah, the move represents not simply a change of residence, but the opportunity to give his children the upbringing he had envisioned long before bringing his remarkable sporting career to a close.
About the Author
Fatuma Taxadar Yusuf is the Editor-in-Chief of Somali Report. She was the first woman to serve as an editor and media managing director in Somalia’s Puntland State. Previously, she worked with the BBC World Service and other leading media organizations in Somalia. She also serves as Deputy Chairperson of the Somalia Media Council, an independent body that regulates media standards and professional conduct in Somalia.
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