British boxer Amir Khan, 38, has revealed that he and his family relocated to Dubai following an armed robbery, which engendered a profound sense of trepidation regarding residing in England.
The boxer was the victim of an attack in which his watch was stolen.
The value of the watch was £72,000. The attack took place on 18 April 2022 while the boxer was having dinner with his wife Feryal Makhdoom in a restaurant in Leyton, East London.
Dante Campbell and Ahmed Bana were apprehended by the police and admitted guilt for robbery and possession of a copy weapon, consequently receiving a custodial sentence (10 years for Bana and approximately eight years for Campbell).
The police returned the watch to the boxer, but this did not restore his sense of security.
Consequently, he made the decision to fly his wife and children, Lamisa (10), Alyan (6) and Mohammad Zafiar (4), to Dubai, more than 4,000 miles away.
Pointing to his life in Dubai, Amir Khan explained that he felt able to leave his car door open, attributing this to the enhanced security afforded by the stricter laws in the UAE.
He expressed the sentiment that one such as himself requires this sense of safety.
Previously, he would frequent a café in London, where street fights between gangs would occur.
This environment was deemed unsuitable and undesirable.
The potential repercussions of engaging in confrontations or becoming involved in legal difficulties are significant, he added.
The issue of gun crime then came to the fore, prompting him to relinquish their timepiece to the assailant, stating, “What do you want, my watch, here you go.” “The criminal will still be pursued by law enforcement and will eventually be apprehended,” Khan added.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
