Nomad Journal 11: Our Muslim Family Arrival in Malaysia

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

After months of living and traveling across the Muslim world, we finally landed in Malaysia — and let me tell you, it was one of our most anticipated destinations. In this episode of our Nomad Journal, we share our arrival in Malaysia after a long journey from South Africa, why we chose Shah Alam over Kuala Lumpur, and what makes it the ideal destination for Muslim families.

Getting Settled in After Arrival in Malaysia

We were flying in from South Africa, and the flight was long and exhausting. If you’re coming to Malaysia chances are you can expect both a longer travel time and a higher price tag compared to other favorite destinations. It's something worth factoring in when planning your family trip.

We pre-booked a taxi to take our family from the airport to our accommodation, which was ideal for our larger group and heavy luggage. However, if you're traveling lighter or solo, using Grab (Malaysia's version of Uber) is an excellent and affordable option. We've had nothing but good experiences with the app.

The first thing you notice after stepping off the plane? The heat. It’s always hot and humid here. It is just something you have to get acclimated to, but that was really the only negative. Everything else, Alhamdulillah, only got better from there.

Why We Chose Shah Alam Instead of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia

Most travelers arriving in Malaysia set up base in Kuala Lumpur(which there is nothing wrong with), and we originally thought we'd do the same. But instead, we booked an Airbnb in Shah Alam, and here's why:

Let’s rewind for a moment. About two years ago, when we were still in America, a Malaysian jamaat came to our local masjid and stayed for four months. We prayed with them often, shared meals, and built a real connection. One day, we invited them over for lunch at our home. I had a serious outdoor kitchen set up at the time — like, restaurant-level gear — and we made them smash burgers, which they absolutely loved.

During that visit, we told them about our dream to travel the Muslim world and mentioned Malaysia was on our list. They immediately suggested Shah Alam for Muslim families like ours and gave us all the reasons. We were blessed to get this first hand experience and one of things I always suggest to travelers, whether they are nomads or just going for a vacation, is to speak to those that either have been or live in your destination. This insight really gave us a clear vision of where we wanted to stay in Malaysia and made planning much easier.

A Brief History of Shah Alam

Shah Alam was developed in the 1960s as Malaysia’s first planned city after independence and was declared the state capital of Selangor in 1978. Designed as a modern, structured city with wide roads, green parks, and a strong Islamic identity, Shah Alam quickly became a symbol of Malaysia’s post-colonial development.

Why Shah Alam is the Best City in Malaysia for Muslim Families

1. Affordability and Space

A fully furnished 3-bedroom Airbnb in Shah Alam costs us around $1,300/month, including fast internet and utilities. The same in Kuala Lumpur? Easily $1,600+, often for less space. Shah Alam gives you more for your money. Our apartment complex even had a prayer hall where residents prayed all five daily salah in congregation. That kind of convenience is rare and incredibly meaningful for a Muslim family, and helped us get to know the locals very quickly.

We also had a gym, playground, and a massive, well-maintained swimming pool which was a highlight for us. One of the great things about this tropical climate is that you can swim all year round 24/7. We took advantage of this by swimming almost every day after Fajr — a refreshing and healthy start to the day.

2. Peaceful & Conservative Environment

Malaysia is wonderfully diverse, but Shah Alam has a higher concentration of Muslims in comparison to Kuala Lumpur and other adjacent cities. That means:

• No bars or clubs

• Halal food everywhere (literally)

• Conservative Islamic dressing is common

• Quiet, clean streets and a family-friendly vibe

3. City Built Around the Mosque

At the heart of the city stands the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, famously known as the Blue Mosque. Completed in 1988, it is the largest mosque in Malaysia and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. We are going to talk about this epic mosque in later blogs when we talk about our visits there so stay tuned.

The city of Shah Alam was quite literally built around this mosque — the urban planning was centered on the mosque as a spiritual and civic hub. Today, the mosque remains the spiritual heart of the city, drawing both locals and visitors for its architecture, tranquility, and deep connection to Malaysia’s Islamic heritage.

Shah Alam Halal Food Variety

One of the best parts of Shah Alam was the halal food scene. We quickly realized this city had the most halal variety we’d seen in any country we’ve visited. You will find just about every cuisine in the world here: Local Malay, Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Italian, English, American, and the list goes on.

From roadside stalls to mall food courts and independent restaurants, halal options were everywhere. We were honestly overwhelmed at first! It was hard to even decide where to start. Thankfully, we planned to stay three months so we could try as many different cuisines as possible.

To top it all off, eating out was extremely affordable in comparison to other places in the world - in many cases cheaper then buying groceries and cooking at home! As a family of foodies this was probably the most exciting realization, and we had to make sure to swim everyday to keep from gaining too much weight! We are going to detail some of the best types of foods to try when you visit in future blogs, but today lets start with a staple of Malaysian life.

Best Place to Eat in Malaysia: Nasi Kandar

Nasi Kandar has its roots in Penang, where Indian-Muslim immigrants developed the concept in the early 1900s. The name "kandar" comes from the practice of vendors carrying their food on a wooden pole balanced on their shoulders — one basket on each end. Over time, it evolved into full-fledged restaurants serving an array of flavorful curries, meats, and vegetables, typically poured over a bed of steaming rice. Known for its bold spices and generous portions, Nasi Kandar has become a beloved staple across Malaysia, symbolizing the cultural fusion that defines the country's food scene.

Nasi Kandar stalls are everywhere and you cannot miss them. Obviously some are better then others, but in general you are in line for great meal. Many are open 24 hours but all are at least early to late hours. Aside from the must try curries with white rice, these are our other must try items:

• Roti Canai – A flaky flatbread pan-fried until golden and served with dhal (lentil curry) or spicy sambal.

• Nasi Goreng – Malaysia’s version of fried rice, often cooked with egg, vegetables, and choice of meat.

• Ayam Goreng – Deep-fried spiced chicken that’s crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

• Tandoori – Chicken or lamb is grilled in a clay oven and served with soft, smoky naan bread.

• Fresh Juices and Hot Drinks – From fresh watermelon, orange, or lemon juice, to teh tarik (pulled tea) and kopi tarik (pulled coffee), you’ll find a variety of options to wash your meal down.

As a family of seven, we had a hearty breakfast with all the fixings for under $15 USD!! These places are perfect for any Muslim family visiting Malaysia and should be on your must-try list.

Check out our Youtube video to see one of our visits.

Why We Rented a Car in Malaysia

Although Grab is cheap and efficient, we opted to rent a 7-seater van for about $500/month. You can get a 5 seater sedan for about $300/month. This gave us freedom and flexibility to really explore, especially as first-time visitors with young kids.

Public transport in Malaysia is decent, but Shah Alam and most of the country are spread out. Using buses or trains often requires walking in the heat or switching to Grab anyway. For us, renting a vehicle made everything easier — from grocery runs to Jummah at the masjid to family day trips. The low cost of accommodation and food allows you to spend a bit more renting a car and we recommend this for families visiting, especially for the first time.

Our arrival in Malaysia marked a new chapter in our nomadic journey. From the moment we landed, we felt welcomed, grounded, and at peace.

Shah Alam turned out to be exactly what we needed: a calm, affordable, halal-friendly base to rest, reflect, and plan our next steps. With amazing food, daily access to the prayer facilities, and a swimming pool that quickly became our kids’ favorite spot, we were off to a strong start.

In our next blog, we’ll take you with us as we explore Shah Alam’s iconic Blue Mosque, try more halal eats, and what it is like to visit Malaysia as a Muslim family.

Nomad Journal 12

Learn more about Malaysia here

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Esim: AloSIM

Airport Transfers: Trip.com

Car Rental: Qeeq.com

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** Disclaimer: We are compensated for some of the links provided in this article if you purchase something, but we only recommend what we have used and found successful or we have done some research to find. This blog should not be used as financial advice and we are not travel agents, we are just letting you know our opinions from real life experience. May Allah bless you and your family on your travels!