Emirati teen aims to complete Explorer's Grand Slam before turning 20
Fatima Al Awadhi, 19, has completed four of the Seven Summits and now plans to reach the North and South Poles.
Illustration: AI-generated image
Abu Dhabi resident Fatima Al Awadhi, 19, has already completed four of the Seven Summits and now plans to become the youngest person to finish the Explorer's Grand Slam before she turns 20, according to The National.
The challenge involves scaling the highest mountain on each continent and reaching both the North and South Poles. Ms Al Awadhi still needs to climb Aconcagua in South America, Mount Everest in Asia and Denali in North America. She will travel to Iceland soon for ski training before heading to the South Pole, where she will ski 111km to the southernmost point on Earth.
Her climbing record includes several firsts. In July she summited Lenin Peak in Kyrgyzstan, becoming the youngest Arab to climb above 7,000 metres. Aged 18, she became the youngest Arab to stand on Antarctica's highest peak, Mount Vinson, and at 17 she was the youngest Emirati to summit Mount Elbrus, Europe's tallest mountain.
An economics student at the American University of Sharjah, Ms Al Awadhi told The National she wants to inspire other young people in the UAE to seize opportunities. "Whenever I look at a summit, I can't help but smile and think: You did it, you set a goal, and you executed it," she said.
She also shared that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed offered his support before her Lenin Peak expedition, telling her, "You represent the spirit of the UAE." Ms Al Awadhi said that message kept her motivated on the way to the summit.
