Fahed Boodai: How to Think about money, Becoming Muslim Billionaire Without Losing Your Soul (EP118)

Bismillah & before we dive in, a personal request 🙏If this episode brings you value, please subscribe, hit the bell, like, comment, and share. Your support helps us grow the channel and bring on even bigger guests for conversations like this.In this episode, I sit down with Fahed Boodai, Chairman and Founder of Gatehouse Bank, for a powerful conversation on war, wealth, Islamic finance, leadership, and legacy.From growing up between Kuwait and America, to being stranded abroad during the invasion of Kuwait, joining US Military Intelligence at just 17, losing everything in the dot-com crash, and later building one of the most recognised names in Sharia-compliant finance, this is a story of resilience, risk, faith, and perspective.We also explore what money really means, whether Muslims should be wealthy, how to fund business without riba, why team is the best investment, and why happiness does not come from money.Inside the conversation we cover:– Growing up between Kuwait and America– Being stranded abroad when Kuwait was invaded– Joining US Military Intelligence at 17– His father’s final advice that shaped his life– What war taught him about intelligence and storytelling– Losing everything in the dot-com crash– Why your team is always your best investment– Knowing when to say no to an opportunity– Gatehouse Bank and its ESG mission– Whether Sharia finance is really more expensive– Funding business without riba– Whether Muslims should be wealthy– Life across continents and his wife as Kuwait’s US Ambassador– Anxiety, daily routines, AI and the future of business– Why happiness does not come from money– What legacy really meansTimestamps00:00:00 – Intro00:00:51 – Growing Up Between Two Worlds: Kuwait & America00:02:29 – Stranded Abroad When Kuwait Was Invaded00:04:04 – Joining US Military Intelligence at 1700:06:34 – His Father’s Last Advice That Changed Everything00:10:47 – What War Taught Him About Intelligence & Storytelling00:14:27 – How He Really Thinks About Money00:17:52 – Losing Everything in the Dot-Com Crash00:21:09 – Why the Best Investment Is Always Your Team00:25:25 – How to Know When to Say No to an Opportunity00:32:04 – Introducing Gatehouse Bank & the ESG Mission00:35:04 – “Is Sharia Finance More Expensive?” — Debunking the Myth00:38:22 – Advice to a 17-Year-Old Starting Out Today00:44:08 – How to Fund a Business Without Riba00:55:18 – Is It Okay for Muslims to Be Wealthy?01:02:04 – Life Across Continents & Wife as Kuwait’s US Ambassador01:08:00 – “What Still Gives You Anxiety?” — The Honest Answer01:11:22 – His Daily Routine & Morning Habits01:14:20 – AI & the Future of Every Business01:17:36 – “Happiness Does Not Come From Money”01:21:14 – What Legacy Really Means#FahedBoodai #GatehouseBank #IslamicFinance #ShariaFinance #HalalFinance #BusinessWithoutRiba #MuslimWealth #Kuwait #EntrepreneurJourney #FaithAndBusiness #BusinessPodcastUK #SideBySidePodcast #KaziRahman #MuslimPodcast #BritishMuslimVoices #Legacy