Khalaf was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. He completed a Bachelor of Software Engineering at the University of Aleppo. Upon completion of his studies, Khalaf was faced with an impossible decision: stay in Syria knowing that he would be conscripted to serve in the Syrian army during the civil conflict; or leave his home, his family and his friends in search of safety and opportunity. Khalaf left Syria for Lebanon at the end of 2013. In 2019, Khalaf registered with Talent Beyond Boundaries was identified as a strong candidate for a Software Engineer position at Iress, a multinational financial software company, in Cheltenham, UK. He underwent a competitive recruitment process, completed a coding test (with distinction), and was extended an employment offer. He moved to the UK on a Tier 2 (General) visa with his wife and two daughters in August 2019.