The last 4 months have been… interesting.

• Opened a bank account, but it was ridiculously difficult compared to the UK, particularly as I'm running my own business and don't have a regular salary.

• I did a lot of apartment-hunting back in April and finally found somewhere towards the end of May. It's a bit “wild west” out here when it comes to property hunting and some of the agents are a bit suspect, but I'm really pleased with where I've ended up, alhamdulillah!

This lovely natural lagoon is a stone's throw away from my apartment, mashaa-Allah. It's where I've started to take my morning walks, just after sunrise, when it's already 34°C (but better than than 43°C a few hours later). 🥵

• Renting a property here is definitely different to the UK, including the fact that you need to give the landlord post-dated physical cheques in advance! The concept of monthly direct debits doesn't seem to have made its way here yet. And there are lots of fees to pay.

• I had my stuff from the UK sent over by air cargo. Resulted in a lot of running around and arguing with the authorities about VAT and customs duty!

• I bought a second hand car (nothing expensive or fancy). That process was also, you guessed it, interesting! It's nothing like buying a car in the UK, and there's a lot of bureaucracy (and fees).

• My marketing business is set up now and I'm about to launch very soon, insha-Allah. Setting up and operating a business here isn't cheap, but the tax regime is definitely more attractive.

• I’m making my first hire for the business. It's another process with a lot of hoops to jump through, including lots of visits to government offices (and more fees!).

• I made a few trips back to UK for different reasons, and managed to spend over three weeks with my family, alhamdulillah.

• Most importantly of all, I managed to make ‘Umrah - for the first time, alhamdulillah!

My soul is missing the Ka’ba and Masjid al-Nabawi, but I'm feeling so blessed to have laid my eyes on them. Alhamdulillah.

In summary, it's been a busy, and at times challenging, few months.

Whilst the UAE is “tax free” for personal income, it's not completely tax free, and it's definitely not fee-free, that’s for sure!

But it's all swings and roundabouts at the end of the day, you just have to decide which compromises you’re willing to make depending on where you live. Nowhere is perfect, but not everywhere is the same.

I've connected with an old school friend who moved here a couple of years ago. I hadn't seen or spoken to him since 1996(!), but am blessed to have him in Sharjah - he’s an awesome guy, mashaa-Allah.

I have two of my closest friends in Dubai, although I have discovered that the Sharjah-Dubai traffic is absolutely horrendous! I've made a couple of new friends, too.

It's definitely lonely out here without your family.

Despite all the madness of getting set up and the unbelievable amounts of red tape (and, how could we forget, fees), there aren't many things I'm missing about the UK other than my family and friends… and maybe water that isn't already luke-warm when all you want is a cold shower!

I'm in work beast-mode now, trying to get the business up and running, insha-Allah. Loooong days (14hrs+, 7 days), but I'm actually enjoying it, and - God willing - it'll be worth it.

If you’re considering this move and have any questions, or just want to reach out, please don't feel shy. It's nice to hear from people!

Keep me in your du'as.

Your brother,

Hanif

Alhamdulillah, the new business consultant I am working with managed to get everything sorted, and I received the news about the visa approval on Tuesday.

It was a bittersweet moment, if I’m honest, as there was a part of me that was secretly hoping the visa application would be rejected so I could go back to the UK to be with my family again (I miss them so much!), but Allah ﷻ knows best and I have all my faith in His perfect plan. The timing of the news was quite interesting, but I’ll write about that separately, insha-Allah.

I had my mandatory medical yesterday (blood test and an X-ray), and now need to get an appointment to have biometrics done (fingerprints, photo, iris scan) - they don’t mess around here, that’s for sure!

Once I get my “Emirates ID”, I’ll need to open a bank account, find somewhere to live (in Sharjah if I can, a challenge in and of itself - more on that later) and buy a car.

There’s also the small matter of my career pivot to an entirely new field, launching a new business, and making enough money so I can afford to bring my family over to join me, if Allah ﷻ wills, in about 15 months (or go back to the UK with no money). 😳

Crazy? Possibly.

Exciting? Definitely!

Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah… 🤲

P.S. I bought reading glasses and now I look like an emoji! 🤓

"And Allah will being forth after hardship, ease.”

[Surah Al-Talaq, 65:7]

Allah ﷻ is consoling His slaves and promising us that the tough times are temporary, and that they will be followed by times of ease, including, insha-Allah, ultimate ease in the afterlife.

It reminds me of the famous story of the Persian king who asked his sages to create something that would make him joyful when he was sad, and sad when he became overly joyful. So they forged a ring for the king, inscribed with the famous phrase, "This too shall pass."

Difficult times will come, but they will pass. Our job is to recognise the tests for what they are - and to patiently persevere.

But I'd always had a question in my mind about the subtle, but undoubtedly profound, difference between the aforementioned ayah and the following:

“So indeed, with hardship there is ease.

Indeed, with hardship there is ease.”

[Surah Al-Sharh, 94:5-6]

In the ayah from Surah Al-Talaq, Allah ﷻ is promising us ease after hardship, but in the repeated ayah in Surah Al-Sharh, He ﷻ is telling us that there are multiple eases/comforts with every hardship.

Although I’d heard some commentary on this distinction before, I don’t think I’d truly internalised it until recently.

If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll be aware that I’ve been trying to relocate to the UAE, but it hasn’t been going smoothly.

I’d planned to return to the UK for a week or so for Eid al-Fitr, but following the rejection of my visa application, I returned early to regroup and was able to spend Ramadan, Eid and a couple of extra weeks with my family (including a lovely staycation in Somerset), alhamdulillah.

It was whilst I was sitting on the sofa in my mother-in-law’s house, surrounded by my family, with my youngest daughter’s head on my chest, that it hit me: “Verily, with hardship there is ease.”

Sure, things might not be going to plan with my relocation, but that same difficulty had brought about this moment - and so many other blessings I was enjoying at the time. Being away, even for a relatively short period, had given me a newfound appreciation for the blessings I had previously taken for granted. “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”, as the saying goes.

I arrived back in the UAE a couple of days ago, as I attempt to set up a new business in Dubai and reapply for a residency visa.

I have no idea if the application will be successful, but it doesn't really matter…

Because whatever difficulties may arise will be accompanied by ease and comforts, and will also be followed by times of ease, if Allah ﷻ wills.

So, the only appropriate response, whatever happens, is: all praise and thanks belong to Allah alone (alhamdulillah).

I should find out this week where I stand regarding the visa, insha-Allah. I’ll keep you posted, insha-Allah.

Until then, the message from me and my handsome alpaca friend, Ozzy (from Somerset), is simple: whatever difficulties you are going through, keep smiling, because your Lord is Allah ﷻ and He never fails in His promise. :)

Well, it turns out the appointment wasn’t much help!

Let me rewind and give you a little bit more background information.

To get an investor visa for the UAE, I first had to set up a company in the UAE. The new company (that I owned) would then apply for an investor visa for me personally, following which I could then sponsor my family to join me at the appropriate time.

I chose to set up my company via the Shams Free Zone in Sharjah, as the Sharjah Free Zone option was the cheapest option, and it made sense, as Sharjah was where I wanted to live.

The business setup process went smoothly, as I had the help of a business setup consultant (whom I didn’t have to pay as he was getting his commission from Shams Free Zone).

The problem came with the visa application, which Sharjah’s immigration department rejected with no reason given. When I tried to find out why, I was passed from pillar to post over a period of two weeks, only to eventually be told that the visa was rejected for ‘security reasons’, that no other reason would be given, and that there was no right of appeal.

And that, as they say, was that!

Although there was no reason given, I have my suspicions, but I’ll save those for another day.

So, what next?

Well, I’m not giving up just yet! I’ve been advised that applying via Dubai (instead of Sharjah) might be worth trying.

I’m currently in the process of closing down the company I just set up via the Sharjah Free Zone (I won’t be getting any of that money back) and setting up a new company in Dubai before trying a second time for the visa application.

If it’s rejected again, then that really will be that!

Although it might feel like things aren’t going according to plan, I always try to remind myself that whilst they might not be going according to my plan, they are 100% going according to Allah’s plan (ﷻ).

I also remind myself that when a path is completely blocked off, I should be grateful and not despondent because it is, insha-Allah, the answer to the du’a I made when I prayed Salat al-Istikhara and asked my Loving Master:

وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

“…And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and worldly affairs, and in the hereafter, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”

Whatever the outcome is of the latest application, it will be for the best, insha-Allah.

If it’s another rejection, then I have complete conviction that Allah ﷻ will grant me something better than it, if He wills!

For now, I’m back in the UK (I have been for a couple of weeks), spending some precious time with my family during this blessed month.

The day after I landed, I was busy fixing a broken toilet at my mother-in-law’s house! As my wife was keen to remind me, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen!”. Lol.

Alhamdulillah, being around my family again is such a blessing, even if it means I have to do some plumbing and DIY!

Alhamdulillah for every blessing we enjoy, whether we recognise it or not, whether we’re mindful of it or take it for granted.

May Allah forgive us for our ungratefulness and give us the ability to worship Him ﷻ as He deserves to be worshipped.

And may He grant us the ability to see the trials and tribulations of life for what they truly are, and allow us to be among those who place their complete trust in Him ﷻ, because that is the path to His Love.

Ameen.

Ma'assalaam

Your brother,

Hanif

We Finally Sold Our House - Alhamdulillah!

In my last post, I explained that our house sale had fallen through - just two weeks before I was due to fly out to Sharjah.

In that post, I wrote "Allah knows best, and there is undoubtedly some good in this" and "I’ve lived a long enough life and witnessed first-hand, on multiple occasions, the wisdom of Allah’s Plans".

Well, check this out:

Good Neighbours

We had a very good relationship with our neighbours; they were practically family - there for us through the good times and bad, alhamdulillah.

Our family had made a lot of du'a that whoever bought our house would be good neighbours to our neighbours.

However, let's just say that the people we were initially going to sell our house to didn't seem like the nicest people I’d ever met!

But what could we do? We needed to sell our house ASAP...

As it turns out, Allah ﷻ had something better in store, as the people we eventually sold the house to seem to be much nicer than the first bunch! And Allah ﷻ knows best.

A Lesson in Gazundering

We verbally agreed a reduced sale price with the first set of buyers, particularly as they were cash buyers who claimed to be "ready to complete ASAP", and turned down a significantly higher offer a couple of days later, because, as far as I'm aware (I double checked!), a verbal contract is binding in Islam.

The buyers then caused some delays as their finances weren't, in reality, completely ready as they had previously stated.

Due to the delays, they fell foul of newly introduced stamp duty regulations, meaning that they'd have to pay more tax on the purchase of the house.

Knowing that we wanted to complete the sale ASAP and that I was planning to move abroad imminently, they decided to put the squeeze on just a week before contracts were due to be exchanged: "Reduce the asking price by £15,000 or we're pulling out!"

A classic case of "gazundering".

Well, I'm a nice guy, but my mama didn't raise no fool!

I told them (politely, of course) to get lost, that I'd put the house back on the market, and Allah ﷻ knows best.

And that's exactly what we did. The first family to see the house put in an offer, which was significantly higher than the first group’s, and we accepted - alhamdulillah!

Not only did the sale go the relatively smoothly and very quickly, but I also got to spend more time with my family - and even have my nephew's nikah at the house! A wonderful last memory of our home of 15 years, alhamdulillah.

The first group thought we'd cave to their demands after a couple of weeks. When they realised that wasn't happening, they called on more than one occasion to 'just do the deal', but that obviously wasn't going to happen anymore! Hopefully, they learnt their lesson.

Despite all the shenanigans, we all make mistakes in life, and I'm not holding anything against them. I pray that they get the best outcome for them, insha-Allah.

A Bit About Sharjah

Sharjah is one of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE): Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah.

Like many people, before I started researching the UAE seriously, the terms "UAE" and "Dubai" were synonymous in my mind.

And Dubai, for many people, is synonymous with luxury, skyscrapers, humongous shopping malls, a fast-paced cosmopolitan urban lifestyle, "influencers", celebrities, etc.

In my ignorance, I thought the whole UAE was like that until a good friend informed me otherwise.

Sharjah, as it turns out, is known for being an Islamically conservative, family-oriented, community-focused Emirate that places great emphasis on preserving its cultural heritage. Ideal for those seeking a slower pace and quieter lifestyle.

Now that sounded much more up my street!

So I popped over to Shajrah for a week in mid-January, just to see what I was letting myself in for (I'd never visited before that, other than being driven through the Emirate with friends to get to somewhere else!).

I can safely say that Sharjah lived up to the description I'd read online and heard from friends.

I stayed in an area called Al-Majaz, which is a vibrant district situated alongside a stunning natural lagoon, and is home to the beautiful Masjid al-Noor (mashaa-Allah).

Well, I felt right at home, alhamdulillah, and figured this feels like the kind of place I could make home - at least for a few years.

I returned to the UK, completed the sale of the house on 31st January, and, alhamdulillah, jumped on a plane to Sharjah the same day!

I've spent most of my time in a hotel in “Al Majaz 1”, literally across the road from Masjid al-Noor.

I can't begin to explain how amazing it feels to hear the call to prayer 5 times a day, to walk across the road, pray in the masjid (where the main imam has a beautiful voice, mashaa-Allah), and then go and stand by the lagoon, or sit under a date tree in the park next to it. Mashaa-Allah.

When I came over, I set up my new marketing business via the Shams Free Zone and applied for my investor residency visa...

...only to have the application rejected, with no reason given!

Without boring you with the details of all the drama of the last couple of weeks, I now have another appointment on Monday with Sharjah immigration, where I'll hopefully be told the reason for the application being rejected, insha-Allah, and perhaps get some instructions on how to rectify the situation, if possible.

Is it disappointing? Sure.

Is it frustrating? Absolutely!

Am I worried? Not in the slightest!

Why not?

Because "Allah knows best, and there is undoubtedly some good in this" and "I’ve lived a long enough life and witnessed first-hand, on multiple occasions, the wisdom of Allah’s Plans".

I did my istishara (consulted the right people) and prayed istikhara on multiple occasions about this move.

I have complete conviction that whatever happens next will be the answer to that du'a, insha-Allah!

So, why worry?

If the visa situation is resolved, then I’ll carry on with my plans.

If not, then I’ll have a had a lovely one-month adventure, and Allah ﷻ will unveil a new plan for me, if He ﷻ wills.

And I am, if He ﷻ wills, in the Safest Hands. ❤️

I'll keep you posted, insha-Allah!

I humbly request your d’uas, please.

Ma'assalaam

Your brother,

Hanif

Alhamdulillah, Allah knows best, and there is undoubtedly some good in this.

So what happened?

Long story short, just a week before exchanging contracts, our buyer demanded a significant price drop, hoping to use my impending relocation as leverage. We stood firm, and they pulled out.

I can’t pretend I wasn’t disappointed when it happened; I’d practically packed my bags and had mentally made the move already, but I do what I always do when trouble hits: I read some Qu'ran, prayed a little, made du’a and left it all in Allah’s hands - and the world was right again! In the grand scheme of things, this really isn’t that big a deal.

I’ve lived a long enough life and witnessed first-hand, on multiple occasions, the wisdom of Allah’s Plans. Only He knows the future and every possible permutation and outcome of our decisions and actions.

We should 100% commit to the decisions we make and push forward, but do so placing our trust in Allah and believing, with complete conviction, that He will facilitate the best outcome for us, even if it’s not what we’d hoped or planned for.

“Once you make a firm decision, put your trust in Allah. Surely Allah loves those who trust in Him.”
[Surah Aali ‘Imran 3:159]

Our mental state is influenced by what we choose to focus on; I’m choosing to focus on the fact that I get to spend more time with my family before I eventually make the move, insha-Allah. That, in and of itself, is a huge blessing alhamdulillah.

The house is now back on the market, and it’s likely to be another 3-4 months, at least, before it sells (the process is frustratingly slow in the UK). This is undoubtedly a blessing in disguise. More time with my family, more time to prepare, and more time to reflect on Allah’s perfect timing.

Alhamdulillah, the journey continues. I’ll keep you posted, insha-Allah!

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Pakistan has discovered what could be the world's fourth-largest oil and gas reserves, mashaa-Allah. If the production potential is realised, it would put them ahead of countries in the Middle East (with the exception of Saudi Arabia) and even China.

This is a potential gamechanger, particularly considering the country’s heavy reliance on imported oil and gas (primarily from Saudi Arabia and the UAE), which, according to Oilprice.com, cost the country $17.5 billion in 2023, with that number projected to grow to $31 billion in seven years.

The country has also been grappling with an energy and inflation crisis, with electricity prices increasing by over 155% since 2021 (linked to conditions placed on Pakistan by the IMF).

However, as the Pakistani expert guests discuss in the TRT World piece below, the extraction will take at least $5 billion worth of investment and several years:

Pakistan will require external investment, but surprisingly, major oil companies aren’t falling over each other to exploit the situation, primarily due to security risks and instability in the country.

From what the commentators are saying, China will be the major extraction partner, having already committed to the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative.

With the West’s economies and global influence in decline, I wonder how they will react to not only the growing Chinese influence in the Global South but also to the prospect of another nuclear power (Pakistan) rising on the global stage.

Not to mention the fact that Pakistan’s neighbour, India, probably isn’t going to be too chuffed about this discovery.

And how will Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Middle Eastern oil-producing countries react to both a loss of revenue (Pakistan bought more than $5 billion worth of crude petroleum from them in 2022 alone) and a new competitor? It’s no wonder that these countries have been working hard to diversify their income streams.

Politics is a dirty game. I pray that this discovery is a blessing that benefits our long-suffering brothers and sisters in Pakistan and the ummah at large, insha-Allah, and doesn’t become a cause of further division and strife.

Next month, insha-Allah, I'll be making the big move to the UAE. After more than a year of intense research and practical steps to relocate (to Turkey!), we're finally in the home stretch - if Allah wills.

We should be agreeing on the completion date of our house sale next week, insha-Allah, and I’m selling my car and everything else I will no longer need. We needed a small army just to empty the attic!

The Plan

I'm heading to Sharjah - one of the seven Emirates and Dubai's next-door neighbour. While I've only ever seen Sharjah through a car window en route from Dubai to Oman, everything I've heard from my UAE-based friends and family suggests it's a solid option.

Sharjah is experiencing rapid development, attracting significant foreign direct investment in a number of areas, including real estate. I’m sure much of this is driven by Dubai's soaring costs, pushing many to look for more affordable alternatives. It's become something of an open secret: live in Sharjah, work in Dubai, and save quite a bit in the process, but it looks as though there are a growing number of opportunities in Sharjah itself.

It's not just about business, though. Sharjah's more conservative Islamic character makes it particularly attractive for Muslim families. A close friend who lives in Dubai takes his family to Sharjah when they go to the beach, specifically because of the more modest dress code, and they’re getting a women-only beach, too, although this isn’t unique to Sharjah.

Sharjah kept Friday sacred when the other Emirates shifted their weekend to Saturday-Sunday and moved to a 4.5-day work week to better align with global markets. The result? A four-day working week that, according to studies, has led to a 90% increase in job satisfaction, an 87% improvement in mental health, and an 86% boost in productivity!

Family Plans

Initially, I'll be going out on my own to set everything up while the family stays with my elderly mother-in-law. After never having spent more than a few weeks apart from my children, it's going to be challenging. But I'm pleased they'll have this time with their maternal grandmother, just as they did with my parents before they passed (may Allah have mercy on them both).

The current plan is for the family to join me next summer, though we might extend that to the following year when my youngest three children have a natural break in their schooling. Whether we can cope with being apart that long is another question entirely, so we’ll have to see what happens! But it would give me the time and space to ensure everything is properly set up before they arrive.

Some of my (married) friends seem to be a bit envious that I’ll be living a bachelor’s life for a while, but I’ve had to remind them that I got married at 21 and had my first child at 22, so I have no idea what a bachelor’s life is like! I suppose I’m about to find out, although I’m not sure exactly what the attraction would be for a married, ‘practising’ Muslim family man?!

Work & New Plans

My existing consultancy work with my UK clients will continue from the UAE insha-Allah (alhamdulillah for the benefits of the internet age!), and I'm currently navigating the process of setting up a new business in the UAE and obtaining an investor visa. Of course, a massive draw is the zero income tax and low corporate tax environment.

I'm considering opening a physical office/creative studio in Dubai, where I imagine most of the clientele will be, although I’ll also explore the option of a Sharjah base. I need to decide whether to set up a free zone company or a mainland company; I already have a good understanding of the pros and cons, but I need to get out there and explore the options in person before making a final choice.

My Recce

I hope to head out for an initial exploration in a couple of weeks before the proper move, insha-Allah. Rather than heading straight to Sharjah, I'm planning first to spend a few days in Dubai to check out potential office locations. Then, it's onto Sharjah to explore different office and residential areas. One benefit of going out alone first (without my family in tow) is the freedom to explore and try different options.

The journey between central Sharjah and central Dubai is about 25-30km, but I’ve been told that what might only be a 30-minute drive in clear traffic can stretch to 90 minutes or more. I plan to test out the commute myself, though thankfully, with my consultancy work not being tied to the typical 9-5, I should be able to avoid the worst of it most days.

This should be interesting, as I’ve never driven abroad before - and in the UAE they drive on the wrong side of the road! Don’t worry, I’m a confident driver, and I’ll say all my du’as before I drive anywhere, insha-Allah.

Looking Ahead

While I still see Türkiye as our eventual destination insha-Allah (for many reasons), I'm genuinely excited about this new chapter in the UAE. At its core, this move is all about what's best for my family. Though it may not be the Turkish adventure we initially imagined, Allah has guided us to this point for reasons known only to Him. We place our trust in His plan and move forward with complete confidence.

Coming Soon

In a future post, insha-Allah, I'll share what I’ve learned about setting up a business in the UAE. While the zero-rate income tax and low corporate tax environment might sound incredibly attractive (and it is!), the costs of setting up and maintaining a business are considerably higher than in the UK. I'll break down the numbers and options from my research to give you a clearer picture of what's involved.

Until then, please keep me in your du’as.

P.S. If there are any topics you’d like me to cover, please comment on the post in SubStack or reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you.

This morning, I watched a video of Professor John Mearsheimer’s recent address to the Middle East Council on Global Affairs:

In his speech, Professor Mearsheimer explains:

• How the world has moved from a bipolar world order (two great powers: USSR and US) to unipolar (US calling the shots) to multipolar (US, China and Russia). As he points out, most of us have grown up in the unipolar moment, but times have already changed - even if many people are still oblivious.

• The US has three key areas of focus: East Asia (Chinese threat), Europe (Russian threat), and the Persian Gulf (oil). Ideally for the US, there'd be peace in Europe and the Persian Gulf, so they could focus on containing the Chinese threat. However, it’s bogged down in the Ukraine/ Russia war and, due to its unparalleled relationship with Israel, is also being dragged back into the Middle East.

• The US has, through its actions, driven Russia, China, Iran and North Korea together into one bloc. An opposing bloc is the US, Israel and Europe. As Mearsheimer puts it, these two blocs "are at each other's throats."

• He then goes on to discuss the Middle East and how, despite what the West may say, Iran is not the one causing all the trouble in the region (it's Israel). He gives a brief analysis of the three major conflicts in the Middle East: Genocide in Gaza, Israel vs Hezbollah, Israel+US vs Iran.

Suffice it to say that the picture he paints of the future is far from rosy, particularly for our brothers and sisters in Palestine, with escalating conflicts that will play out for years to come.

As the West grapples with economic decline, soaring living costs, and growing social polarisation, it’s no surprise that internal conflicts and Islamophobia are on the rise. It’s a stark contrast to what my immigrant parents had hoped would be a land of opportunity, prosperity and safety.

That being said, my mother (may Allah have mercy on her) would constantly warn me and my siblings not to get too comfortable in the UK as society could turn against us (Muslims/immigrants) at any time. She’d always encourage us to have a Plan B; for her, that meant keeping a fallback option open in Bangladesh.

And now, as I prepare to relocate, I can’t help but ask myself: is there anywhere left that feels safe, secure, and stable enough to raise a family?

I don’t know the answer to that question. But it does seem like times are going to get much tougher, and we should prepare ourselves and our families practically and spiritually for what lies ahead.

If our children have been fortunate enough to grow up in the lap of comfort and relative luxury, perhaps it’s time to toughen them up so they are better equipped to deal with difficult times? Whether that’s physically through sports or martial arts, or by letting them experience some challenges/difficulties and teaching them the Islamic principles of du’a and tawakkul, as well as resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of perseverance.

And we should all be working on strengthening our iman. After all, life is a series of tests, and preparing spiritually – through increased du'a, gratitude, salah, and staying close to the Qur'an – will be our greatest shield when the tough times hit.

Though the world may be shifting under our feet, our Islam will give us a strong foothold.

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِى عَلَى دِينِكَ
”Oh Turner of the Hearts (Allah), keep my heart firm on your religion.”

How are you preparing your family for the times ahead? Are you considering relocating to another country? I’d love to hear from you.

Your brother,

Hanif

The video has over 55 million views to date - for good reason. In the video, Ray explains how his research into the rise and fall of large nations and empires over the past 500 years helped him develop a set of metrics to help explain how they progress through different stages of development and decline.

Why does any of this matter? Because, as the saying goes, “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes”.

Only Allah knows the future, but all signs point to a world very different from the one many of us have known, though it may echo the past.

Gone are the days of a “unipolar world” with the US calling all the shots.

As Ray demonstrates in the video (and in more detail in his book of the same name), the US is clearly on the decline, and whilst the decline could potentially be slowed, it seems inevitable.

On the other hand, China is on the ascendancy, and tensions between the two countries and their allies are increasing every day.

If you want to understand how and why the US is declining and what that might lead to, the video is a great starting point (it’s animated and engaging).

So much of what Ray explains in the video appears to be playing out in front of our very eyes, from increased militarism to the rise of BRICS to de-dollarisation.

I can’t help but wonder what the future holds - and what it means for all of us, wherever we are. As sides are picked and battle lines drawn, it feels like there are dark days ahead.

What are your thoughts? How do you think things will play out? And what, if anything, should we be doing to prepare? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Hanif

In the final video on the Moving to Türkiye YouTube channel, I:

➡️ Explain how much you need to spend to obtain a residence permit or citizenship

➡️ Show you how to search for Turkish properties online yourself, using an online listings portal

➡️ Cover what I learned about property taxes and purchase fees

Whilst this might be the last video about Türkiye for a while, I’ll continue to share (via this blog) whatever else I’ve learned about Türkiye, as well as details of my relocation to the UAE, insha-Allah.

We’d narrowed down where we were going to live, had connected with estate agents via a trustworthy third party, and had even set up a bank account…

But, due to residence permit issues, we’ve had to put the move to Turkey on hold.

It’s a long story, but, in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to relocate to a country where my eldest daughter (aged 22) couldn’t join us if she ever wanted/needed to.

In Turkey, the permit to cover family members only extends to children aged up to 18, after which they need a separate residence permit, either through work, study or their own investment (none of which were suitable for us).

I had even considered starting a company in Turkey and then employing my daughter so she’d have a work permit, but in Turkey, for every foreigner you want to grant a work permit to, you have to employ five Turks first! I understand why Türkiye have chosen this approach, of course - they’re prioritising their own citizens. Can’t blame them for that!

So, we’re relocating to the UAE insha-Allah, as I can start a company there and then sponsor my family, including boys up to the age of 18 and unmarried daughters of any age.

Alhamdulillah, our house sale is almost complete, and I’ll be heading out by myself initially to get everything set up, and my family will follow in due course, insha-Allah.

I still want to move to Turkey one day insha-Allah, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.

But for now, I’m off to the UAE insha-Allah!

So, this blog will be changing. I’ll still talk about Turkey and share what I’ve learned, but I’m also planning to share my journey to the UAE, as well as my thoughts on other topics, including Islam, business, health and more, insha-Allah.

Much of that will be in written form (like this), but I’ll create a video here and there if I can, insha-Allah.

And this blog’s name is changing from “Moving to Türkiye“ to “Hanologue” (because I couldn’t think of anything else more creative, OK?!).

For anyone who wants more info about moving to Turkey, check out these YouTube channels:

1. Zain & Mahno: www.youtube.com/@MahnoZain

2. Confused?Muslim: www.youtube.com/@confusedmuslim6005

3. London to Lara: www.youtube.com/@FromLondonToLara

The second channel is run by a brother called Faiz, and the third one by a brother by the name of Aadil. I had the pleasure of meeting them both in person when I was in Antalya in April; lovely guys, mashaa-Allah.

Faiz actually organises tours of Antalya for people who are considering relocating, and he introduced me to his real estate agents, too. His contact details are on his channel, so feel free to reach out to him.

We prayed istikhara before embarking on this journey, and we place 100% of our trust in Allah. Alhamdulillah - we make plans, but Allah’s plan is always better! 🤲🩵

Thanks for following the journey so far, and I hope you stick around for whatever happens next…

Bismillah.

I know I said the next post would be about buying property in Antalya and sharing what I've learned so far, and I will get to that, insha-Allah, but I just had to talk about what's happening in the world right now.

Let's start with the UK, which is still home (for now).

This weekend, there are dozens of marches planned by the far-right in the UK against Muslims.

In case you’re not aware, what sparked the trouble on this occasion was a recent incident where a young boy - just 17 years old - tragically murdered three young children and injured others. Rumours quickly spread on social media, claiming that the perpetrator was a Muslim immigrant. It wasn't true, but that doesn’t matter to the far-right; of course, they’re just looking for any excuse.

So far, riots have broken out, mosques have been attacked, a police station was set on fire, and a Muslim has been stabbed in Liverpool ahead of a far-right demo.

A Pattern in History

This isn't an isolated incident, and things have definitely been getting worse over the past few years. However, we’ve been through troubled times before.

When I was a kid in the 1980s, we caught the tail-end of similar troubles - people slightly older than me have countless stories about those difficult times. After 9/11, things got quite bad again, and now it seems to be happening once more.

But this time feels different.

We're witnessing political shifts across Europe and the West, where everything seems to be moving further to the right. Whether it’s the US, the UK, Germany, or France, the discourse on what’s politically acceptable regarding Muslims and Islam has shifted dramatically. In the UK, politicians have been pandering to the far-right narrative; even our current Prime Minister talked, during the election run-up, about sending Bangladeshi immigrants back home.

Economic Turmoil and the Spectre of War

Historically, things get bad during economic hardship. People want someone to blame, and the powers-that-be prefer not to take that blame themselves, so they play into the narrative and point fingers at minorities, and people buy into it because they don’t know or seek the truth.

Western powers are on the decline. We've shifted from a unipolar world, where the US was in charge post-World War II, to a multipolar one with China, Russia and the ‘Global South’ rising to challenge the status quo. The UK economy isn’t in the best shape (to put it mildly), the US isn’t in the position it used to be, and there's fear of a US recession impacting economies worldwide.

Over lunch with a couple of ex-colleagues this week, I mentioned how fortunate we've been in the West to live in relatively peaceful times over the last several decades. Our governments may have fought, instigated, or perpetuated wars elsewhere, but we haven’t directly suffered as a result.

However, it’s worth remembering that WWI and WWII weren’t that long ago, and so many other people across the world have suffered the horrors of war since then. Some of us have just been the lucky few not to have experienced war, but we’re starting to see countries become more insular and hawkish, talking up conflict. As many political commentators have noted, declining empires typically don’t go down without a fight.

It feels like the world is heading towards increasingly troubled times.

Is Moving Abroad the Solution?

Moving abroad isn’t the right solution for everyone.

Some can’t afford it, and others have commitments that keep them rooted. Those of us who have the option to move (if we choose to) are in a very privileged position.

There's a debate to be had about whether moving is the right thing to do (Islamically speaking), whether it’s “hijrah”, etc. We can delve into that another time, insha-Allah.

However, we must remember that the rest of the world isn’t necessarily safe either. Just this morning, I read about how the US is bolstering its military in the Middle East due to escalating tensions. Moving to Türkiye, Dubai, or elsewhere might not be the safest option if those regions become embroiled in the conflict.

You might think about moving further away, to countries like Malaysia, for example. But the reality is that the world is interconnected in complex ways, and there's talk of the real possibility of another world war (God forbid). Unlike the previous two, we now have nuclear weapons, making the prospect petrifying.

So what can we do?

Some might see moving abroad as the right step for various reasons, while others believe staying is the best course. Many will have no option but to stay where they are.

Whether you’re staying or going, it’s time for action. We can’t continue living insular lives, only worrying about ourselves and our families. There are bigger things at stake.

What can we (as Muslims) do to mitigate against the challenges that we’re already facing and those that are coming, regardless of where we’ll be living? This is a serious question.

The petty squabbles need to stop. We need to come together to have serious conversations.

I heard a scholar say something many years ago that is still as relevant today as it was then: “The house is on fire, and we’re arguing about which TV channel to watch.”

And, ultimately, we should all be concerned about strengthening our imaan so we can pass the difficult tests that will inevitably come, whichever land we find ourselves living in.

“Do people think that they will be left to say, "We believe", and they will not be tested?

But We have certainly tested those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.”

Al-Quran [29:2]

[Watch the video or read the summary below - the choice is yours!]

I've only been to Türkiye twice, my wife has only been once, and our kids have never been. But we’re still planning to move there!

You might think we're a bit mad for wanting to move to a country without spending more time there first. However, I explained some of our reasons in the last post/video, and our recent visit (more on that below) convinced us that, insha-Allah (God willing), this is the right move for us.

Most people like to focus on the worst-case scenario, asking themselves, “What happens if this goes wrong?” This isn’t unwise, but I think you also need to balance that out by asking, “What happens if this goes right?”

Plus, my parents moved from Bangladesh to the UK without ever having visited and with zero security (or even a mobile phone, let alone the internet!), so I’m putting my trust in God and am hoping to emulate their bravery to a much lesser degree.

What's the Plan?

Our plan is relatively straightforward:

We want to sell our house here in the UK, pay off the mortgage and other debts, and then buy a property in Antalya outright with cash.

One of our main motivations for moving to Türkiye is the possibility of living without a mortgage or rent, which could be a real game-changer. Just the thought of not having that financial pressure every month (and the freedom that might give us) keeps me going!

Our Progress So Far

Before we visited Turkey, I did a tonne of research (for those of you who know me, this won’t come as a surprise!). I watched everything and read everything I could find about everything I could think of: buying property, Turkish politics, economics, culture, education, business opportunities, and more.

Then, last November, I went to Istanbul with a group of acquaintances for four days to experience the city (and the country) - for the first time in my life!

It was amazing, but I quickly realised that city life, especially in a place as bustling as Istanbul, just isn’t for me. It's just too busy, and I’ve been sick of city life for a while, particularly as I age and develop Grumpy-Old-Man Syndrome.

We then turned our attention to Antalya. My wife and I visited in April this year for eight days. It wasn’t a holiday by any stretch of the imagination; it was a recce, a research trip with a packed schedule every day. We wanted to see if all the research matched the reality.

We met people who had already moved to Antalya and spoke with them. It was incredibly valuable to get their insights - both the good and the bad.

We met with estate agents, viewed properties, and explored different parts of Antalya we were interested in living in, narrowing it down to a couple of places.

I even managed to open a bank account (I’m so ready to make this move!).

And then, on the last day, we squeezed in an hour’s quality time at the beach.

The trip was busy but incredibly insightful and definitely worth it.

Sell First

Since returning in April, our focus has been on getting our house ready to sell, as it was in a bit of a state.

The past few weeks have been intense, trying to keep up with work while overseeing some of the renovations and doing a lot of it myself.

It’s been exhausting and I’m pretty much running on empty at the moment (so is my bank account!), but we are nearly there.

I need to find the energy to do as much as I can over the next few days before the house goes on the market at the tail end of next week, insha-Allah. Hopefully, we’ll get a good price that allows us to finance the move to Antalya.

Then, with cash in the bank, the plan is to head out to Antalya to find a property, insha-Allah.

I plan to do a separate post/video about the property market in Antalya (I’ve been following it very closely over the past 6 months), sharing what I’ve learned about the different areas of Antalya and what you can get for your money.

Why Buy Instead of Rent?

Many people ask me why we're buying instead of renting first.

Renting seems like the smart move - you can test the waters in the new country and see if the move is right for you.

And that was our original plan: to rent for six months, get a feel for things, figure out the best areas and then buy a property outright. But we changed our minds for several reasons:

1. It’s a lot of money to lose. Renting for six months or a year means losing that rental money, which adds up to a fair amount. Unfortunately, I’m not wealthy enough to throw away cash on rent if we can avoid it, even if it does help to manage the risk of things not working out.

2. Property prices in Turkey have been rising rapidly. A property we can afford now might be out of reach if we wait a year, and that would be very disappointing! On the flip side, if we buy early, the property should (insha-Allah) increase in value, so even if the move doesn’t work out, it will have been an investment. There are lots of things that could go wrong of course, but maybe we’ll save that for another post!

3. We want to get residency through property investment, which is currently possible if you spend a minimum of $200,000 (around £157,000) on a property. That threshold might change, and things change rapidly in Türkiye. Just last year, the threshold jumped from $75,000 to $200,000, and there are rumours that it might increase again - and we don’t want to miss the boat.

4. Finally, while you can theoretically get residency with a rental agreement, that’s no longer possible in practice. Apparently (according to some YouTubers and people I’ve spoken to) new applicants are being rejected, making buying the more secure option.

That’s the update.

I hope these posts are providing some value to you, and I’m looking forward to creating the next videos/posts where I’ll share what I’ve learnt so far.

Next up (God willing): the property market in Antlaya.

Until then, peace be with you!

[Feel free to watch the video above or, if you want to avoid my tired late-night ramblings, read the significantly shortened AI-generated summary below!]

Our reasons for wanting to leave London and the UK, and why we’ve chosen Antalya as our new home, are diverse. Some are unique to my family and our personal situation, but some may resonate with you.

I’m a 44-year-old (young?!) married man, blessed with four kids between the ages of 21 and 6. I was born and raised in East London. Although I’ve always lived in London, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more disenfranchised with city life.

Our decision to move didn’t happen overnight. We’ve been planning to move out of London for at least six years, actively working on an exit plan. This plan included transitioning to running my own business, one that would allow me to be more footloose and work from anywhere.

Initially, we planned to move to another part of the UK for a better quality of life, always with the dream of moving abroad one day. But it looks like we might be making the leap directly overseas!

Making the decision wasn’t easy; here are some of the many factors we took into consideration:

Pull Factors of the UK:

• Family: My parents are no longer alive, but my siblings (and their kids) and my wife’s family are in London or nearby, as are other relatives.

• Friends: Many of our lifelong friends are here (although some have already legged it!).

• Stability and Civility: Compared to some other countries, the UK offers some degree of stability and civility.

• Business Environment: The UK is not a terrible place to do business or even work; systems and rule of law exist - at least in theory.

• Healthcare: Access to "free" healthcare through the NHS.

Push Factors of the UK:

• Weather: The British weather is notoriously gloomy and unpredictable.

• Rat Race and Quality of Life: London life is a constant hustle, often leading to a poor quality of life.

• Crime: Increasing crime levels and the types of crimes are concerning.

• Pollution: While you get used to it, the pollution becomes noticeable once you leave London (especially for an asthmatic like me).

• Education and Statism: Issues with the education system and the overreach of the state.

• Declining Living Standards: The decline of the NHS, for example, is symptomatic of broader economic problems.

• Islamophobia: Even the left-wing now leans right, with growing Islamophobia across Europe and the West.

There’s a fantastic animated video on YouTube by Ray Dalio that outlines why and how the US, like other empires before it, is in decline. I’d highly recommend watching the video, as it offers some very keen insights into what might happen next in the world.

For example, as inequality rises and living standards drop, internal and external conflicts will increase.

Internally, non-Whites and Muslims (good luck if, like me, you’re a non-White Muslim!) are often scapegoated. Externally, the language of increasing militarism and hawkish posturing is alarming.

It feels like the world is heading towards difficult times, again…

Where do we want to be if/when things get worse? Where do we want to raise our families? For me, the answer is “not in the UK”. But why Turkey over other options?

Pull Factors of Turkey:

• Weather: Antalya boasts 300 days of sunshine, a significant improvement over the UK's weather!

• Proximity to the UK: Antalya is relatively close, with regular, cheap flights available.

• Cost of Living: Rising but still cheaper than many other countries, including the UK, both in terms of property and everyday living.

• Quality of Life: A better quality of life in a less stressful environment.

• Muslim Country: It’s comforting to be in a country where being Muslim is the norm and not a reason for discrimination.

• Safety: Relative safety compared to other locations.

• Nature: Antalya offers a stunning natural environment with beaches, mountains, and everything in between.

• Hope of Citizenship: The potential to gain Turkish citizenship (or permanent residency) in the future.

• Business Opportunities: Turkey's rapidly growing economy presents numerous opportunities.

• The Project: The entire Türkiye project is exciting, with many more factors that make it appealing.

Push Factors / Challenges of Turkey:

• Language: English is not as widely spoken in Turkey as in places like Dubai.

• Economic Challenges: Many people in Turkey face tough economic times, and finding work can be difficult, particularly as a foreigner.

• Cost of Luxury Goods: Luxury goods and electronics, cars, and some other items are very expensive!

• Immigration Sentiment: Not all locals are happy with immigration (or immigrants!).

• Political Instability: The political climate can be unstable, with a failed attempted coup in the not-too-distant past and the constant threat of terrorist attacks.

• Bureaucracy: Dealing with bureaucracy and sudden policy changes can be challenging.

Every country has its pros and cons, and right now, for us, the pros of moving to Turkey outweigh the cons. However, everyone’s situation is different.

I’ve found that listing everything out helps with clarity and tempering emotional decision-making.

A Decision-Making Formula for Fellow Muslims:

1. Istishara: Seek advice and consultation.

2. Make a Decision: Decide on a course of action.

3. Istikhara: Perform the prayer for guidance.

4. Make a Plan: Strategise and plan thoroughly.

5. Tawakkul: Place your trust in Allah once you’ve made a firm decision - and crack on!

Even for small decisions, this approach ensures that you can never go wrong.

That’s why I’m not scared, apprehensive, or even nervous about the move. It doesn’t mean it will be easy (in fact, I expect the first year to be hard quite challenging), but it will bring ease in the long term, God willing.

And if God wills that the move doesn’t happen, and we’re "stuck" here in the UK, that’s OK too.

Either way, it will be an interesting journey…

[Watch the video above or, if you’d rather not see my face, read the transcript below!] 🙈

Assalamu-’alaykum, hello and welcome to Moving to Türkiye!

My name is Hanif, and this is my vlog about my family's migration from London to Antalya in Turkey - or “Türkiye” to give the country its proper name.

Insha-Allah (God willing) we're hoping to make the move in the next few months, and the purpose behind this vlog is to support, inform, and perhaps even inspire some of you who might have similar dreams.

I was planning to do this after we moved, but a few people have asked me to start now, just so we capture the highs and lows leading up to a move abroad and all the other challenges, so here we are.

In addition to explaining why we're moving and giving regular updates about our journey, I'm planning to also create some informative videos about topics such as:

• Getting residency or citizenship in Turkey

• The Turkish education system

• Their health system

• Cost of living

• Working and doing business there

• Buying property & investment opportunities

• Things to do in Antalya

• Islamic life in Antalya

• Turkish food, language, culture...

• The Turkish economy

…and some other stuff too, I'm sure.

I'm not an expert in these areas, but I'll share what I've learnt so far and anything else I learn as I go along.

If there are any other topics you're interested in that I haven't covered specifically, let me know.

I'll also try to record conversations with some wonderful people I've met who have made the leap already.

So, if this sounds interesting to you, stay tuned and in the next episode, I'll tell you a little bit more about myself and my family, why we're leaving the UK (insha-Allah), and why we've picked Turkiye (and Antalya specifically).

Until next time, keep me in your prayers and assalaamu-'alaykum!