“Navigating the Rapidly Changing Rules and Regulations is a Primary Concern”: 10 On The Weekend With Mohamed Hassan

10 On The Weekend is a weekly (-ish) feature in IMI, the concept of which is simple: Each time, we ask the same ten questions of a different IMI Pro, letting readers get to know the interviewee on a more personal and informal level than they might during the ordinary course of business.

Our guest this week is Mohamed Hassan, Founder of World Gate Citizenship and Residency Services

How do you spend your weekends?

Weekends, for me, are a time to recharge and refocus. I enjoy spending quality time with my family and exploring new places. I also make time for personal reflection and strategic planning for the week ahead, which helps me stay aligned with both my personal and business goals.

What are your top three business goals this year?

• Expand Our Global Footprint: We aim to enter several new markets this year, focusing on regions with growing demand for investment migration services, such as UAE, KSA, and Libya.

• Enhance Client Experience: We’re enhancing our technology and training efforts to deliver an even more seamless and personalized experience for our clients. Simultaneously, we’re launching new real estate development projects in Egypt to broaden investment options and offer exciting opportunities, particularly for those pursuing citizenship or residency through real estate investment.

• Strengthen Strategic Partnerships: Building stronger alliances with real estate developers, financial institutions, and legal experts to offer more comprehensive services.

What’s your biggest business concern right now?

Navigating the rapidly changing rules and regulations is a primary concern. Keeping up with global shifts in immigration policies while ensuring compliance and maintaining our high service standards is a constant challenge.

Which book is on your nightstand right now?

Currently, the book on my nightstand is Every Mistake in the Book by F.J. Lennon. The book is filled with valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and business professionals, as Lennon openly discusses his challenges, from poor financial decisions to misguided business strategies.

Each chapter offers insights into the realities of starting and running a business, emphasizing the importance of resilience, learning from failure, and the often unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship.

How and when did you first get into the investment migration industry?

I began my journey in the investment migration industry with World Gate more than a decade ago, starting in 2013 with a focus on residency by investment in the GCC region.

Over time, we expanded into the citizenship by investment sector. My initial interest was driven by the potential to help individuals and families gain greater freedom and security through global mobility.

What began as a fascination, fueled by my background as a lawyer with a Diploma in International Law and Finance, quickly evolved into a deep passion for guiding clients through the intricate processes of obtaining citizenship and residency by investment.

What was your proudest moment as a service provider?

My proudest moments have always been helping families and businessmen secure citizenship from a new country after they faced significant challenges in their home country.

Knowing that our services can change lives and provide new opportunities for our clients is incredibly fulfilling. One of the two most memorable success stories I can recall involves a Pakistani client who had faced multiple residency refusals.

I was able to secure UK residency for him, and today, he is one of the leading businessmen in the UK. The other case involved two Egyptian clients who wanted to invest in Qatar.

Through Dominica’s citizenship program, they obtained residency in Qatar. Over time, they have thrived and become highly successful businessmen in the region.

Which investment migration market development has surprised you the most in the last year?

Egypt’s citizenship program has been the most surprising development in the investment migration market over the past year.

Its potential stands out because it offers an opportunity for individuals seeking a second home to invest in a thriving real estate market while gaining citizenship.

Additionally, Saint Lucia’s citizenship program has attracted significant attention this year despite being one of the newer programs since its establishment in 2017.

Lastly, the growth of Northern European programs, particularly in Latvia, has been remarkable, highlighting the considerable potential of these emerging markets.

If you could go ten years back in time, what business decision would you change?

Expand into potential citizenship markets more rapidly and invest on a larger scale in real estate developments to offer compelling investment opportunities to our clients worldwide.

What investment migration industry personality do you most admire?

Andrew Henderson, founder of Nomad Capitalist, because of his insightfulness, comprehensive approaches, and professionalism.

If all goes according to plan, what will you be doing five years from now?

I want to have multiple real estate development projects in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Libya, allowing us to explore various sectors within the investment world that can also be strategically connected to residency and citizenship programs.