Amir Khan fled UK home to live in 'much safer' country after terrifying gunpoint robbery
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Former boxing champion Amir Khan has revealed he has relocated his family to Dubai following a harrowing gunpoint robbery in London that left him fearful to remain in Britain.
The 38-year-old boxer made the decision to move more than 4,000 miles away with his wife Faryal Makhdoom and their three children: Lamaisah, 10, Alayan, six, and Muhammad Zaviyar, four.
The dramatic lifestyle change comes in the wake of a terrifying incident in April 2022, when Khan was targeted by armed robbers outside an East London restaurant for his £72,000 luxury watch.
The robbery occurred outside the Sahara Grill in Leyton, where Khan was dining with his wife and friend Omar Khalid.
Amir Khan left the UK after the gunpoint robbery
GETTYAn armed assailant confronted Khan, demanding he "take off the watch" whilst pointing a gun at his face.
The perpetrators, Dante Campbell and Ahmed Bana, were later apprehended and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and possession of imitation firearms.
Bana received a nine-year and eight-month prison sentence, whilst Campbell was imprisoned for seven years and nine months.
Police later recovered and returned the Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph watch to Khan.
Speaking about his new life in Dubai, Khan expressed feeling considerably safer in the Middle Eastern city.
"I can leave my car door open, it's just so much safer here. I think the law is much more strict, I think people like us need that," he told The Sun.
The former champion contrasted this with his experiences in the UK, where he witnessed fights breaking out at cafes with "gang[s] of people outside."
Amir Khan feels the UK isn't safe
PA"I don't need that in my life - I'm a retired fighter. I've been fighting all my life, there's no point starting fights on the streets or getting into problems," Khan added.
The 2022 robbery wasn't Khan's first brush with crime in Britain.
In 2012, Khan and his brother Haroon fought off six men who attempted to steal his £125,000 Range Rover.
Five years later, in 2017, Khan was involved in another violent incident following a road rage confrontation in Manchester.
The former light-welterweight world champion said the 2022 gunpoint robbery ultimately convinced him to leave Britain, noting the situation could have been even more frightening had his children been present.
"Then the gun crime happened, I just wanted to give the watch away and said, 'There you go, what do you want? Do you want the watch? There you go, take it,'" he recalled.
Despite relocating abroad, Khan maintains his affection for Britain and its boxing fans.
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Amir Khan feels much safer in Dubai
PA"It's just when you've got out of town it gets a little bit scary sometimes, you just don't know what can happen, you don't know the area that well, you don't know the people there," he explained.
Khan, who retired from boxing at age 35 in 2022 following his bout with Kell Brook, still describes British fans as "amazing."
His retirement announcement on social media reflected his gratitude: "It's time to hang up my gloves. I feel blessed to have had such an amazing career that has spanned over 27 years."
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