Noble Roots and a War-Torn Homeland:
Ahmad Faisal Ahmadi was born into a prominent Afghan family that held influence through generations. His family's fortune came from controlling critical trade routes that spanned Central Asia, including smuggling weapons, opium, and valuable goods during times of war.
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, as the British Empire and Russian Empire fought for dominance in the region during the Great Game, his family maintained a delicate balance of neutrality, playing both sides to protect their power.
However, Ahmad's family faced their downfall when rival tribes and external powers destabilized their region, resulting in a brutal conflict that claimed the lives of many family members, including his father and brothers. Ahmad, still in his early twenties, fled to Europe with the remnants of his family's wealth and a burning desire for revenge.
Years of Displacement and Strategic Learning:
Ahmad's time in Europe, particularly in the Ottoman Empire and later in Paris and Vienna, allowed him to experience the crossroads of culture, commerce, and politics. He made powerful connections with arms dealers, diplomats, and criminals who operated in the shadows of polite society.
With his keen intellect and ability to speak multiple languages, Ahmad gained entry into high society circles where money and power were intertwined. These experiences would shape his vision of a global empire that operated behind the scenes, where neutrality would be the key to controlling the most dangerous people in the world.
In this period, Ahmad also perfected the art of diplomacy, trading, and leverage, learning that power wasn't always about brute force but about who controlled the flow of information and safe spaces.
The Concept of the Continental:
Ahmad had seen first-hand how European criminals, political figures, and exiled leaders lacked a place where they could meet without fear of assassination, double-crossing, or police interference. He knew there was a demand for neutral ground—a sanctuary where power players could meet to make deals without the risk of violence.
Thus, the Continental Hotel was born in London, one of the most critical centers of international trade and politics in the world at the time.
Ahmad strategically chose London because it was a hub of commerce, diplomacy, and espionage. The hotel was designed to attract both the elite and the underworld by offering luxury, anonymity, and security—a combination no other place could provide.
Financing the Continental:
Ahmad used the remnants of his family's fortune—gold, jewels, and rare artifacts smuggled out of Afghanistan during his escape—to finance the construction of the Continental.
He also made key alliances with various international figures who were invested in keeping such a place neutral. These investors included:
Arms dealers who needed a place to conduct business discreetly.
Displaced royalty and exiled political figures who needed a refuge where they could plan their returns to power.
European bankers who valued the importance of anonymity in their dealings.
Ahmad promised each of these investors that the Continental would remain neutral—no assassinations, no violence, and no betrayals within its walls.
The Rules of the Continental:
The success of the hotel depended on a strict code of neutrality. Guests could not harm each other while on the premises, and this rule was enforced with brutal efficiency by Ahmad's personal security team, led by Kamal.
Violating the rules would result in permanent exile from the hotel, or worse, death. This allowed Ahmad to maintain control while also ensuring that the most dangerous criminals and politicians in the world could do business without fear.
Creating Global Networks:
Ahmad's reach extends beyond the hotel's physical walls. He uses the Continental as a base of operations to build networks of influence across Europe, the Middle East, and eventually the world. Through his contacts, he facilitates illegal trades, smuggling, and arms deals.
His goal is to turn the Continental into a global network of neutral hotels in major cities like Paris, Vienna, Constantinople (Istanbul), and New York, but London remains the first and only location at the beginning of the story.
How Ahmad Managed to Build the Continental in London:
Strategic Location:
Ahmad chose London because it was the capital of the British Empire, a place where commerce, politics, and criminal enterprises intertwined. By positioning the hotel in such a critical city, he ensured that it would be the center of the world's most important deals.
London was also a place where old money met new money, and where global criminals sought refuge while building their empires. Ahmad knew that the city needed a place like the Continental—a place where power could change hands without violence.
Leveraging European Contacts:
Ahmad's time in Paris and Vienna introduced him to European aristocrats, arms dealers, and criminal syndicates. He made a fortune through illicit trades, which he then funneled into the construction of the Continental.
Through these contacts, Ahmad promised protection and anonymity, gaining their trust and financial support.
Enforcing Neutrality:
The most important rule of the Continental is no bloodshed on the premises. Ahmad had to ensure that even the most violent criminals and politicians respected this rule. He enforced this through a combination of bribery, intimidation, and lethal force. Those who broke the rules faced swift and merciless consequences.
Kamal and Ahmad's security team were handpicked from some of the most dangerous men he had encountered during his time in Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Their loyalty was absolute, and their skill in protecting the hotel was unmatched.
The Peaky Blinders Connection:
When Ahmad establishes the Continental, he is relatively new to the British underworld. This is where the Peaky Blinders come into play. Ahmad seeks to use Tommy Shelby's connections and muscle to deal with the rising tensions between rival gangs in London.
Ahmad needs local protection, and by partnering with Tommy Shelby, he ensures that his hotel remains safe from local threats. In exchange, he offers Tommy something he's never had—international influence.
The Influence of MI5 and the British Elite:
British intelligence is wary of Ahmad and the Continental's neutrality. To the government, the hotel is a hub for illegal activity, but they cannot shut it down without risking valuable political and criminal alliances.
Ahmad carefully navigates his relationships with the British aristocracy, including Evelyn Moore. She is both an adversary and a potential ally, and Ahmad knows that staying on her good side is key to keeping the hotel open.