He split his time between the United Kingdom, the United States, and France, having been forced to leave Iran at the time of the 1979 revolution.Khayami was a resident in the UK for over 30 years and never returned to Iran. His philanthropic work (now performed largely through the Khayami Foundation) was recognised in 2004 when he was invested as a Knight of the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester by Pope John Paul II, and in 2006 when he was invested as a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro. He had also been decorated by the late King Hussein of Jordan.
