Fatima Al Awadhi sets record as youngest Emirati to summit Mount Vinson and Europe’s highest mountain.
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Emirati mountaineer Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi, who has become the youngest Arab woman to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, and the youngest Emirati to scale Europe’s highest mountain, Mount Elbrus.
Earlier this year, the 18-year-old achieved a landmark feat by reaching the 4,892-metre summit of Mount Vinson, becoming the first and youngest Arab to conquer the continent’s highest peak.
The achievement marks the third stage of Al Awadhi’s ambitious pursuit of the Seven Summits challenge, which involves scaling the highest peak on each of the world’s seven continents, highlighting the determination of Emirati youth to take on some of the world’s most demanding challenges.
Al Awadhi dedicated her achievement to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation. She expressed her gratitude for their continued support of Emirati youth and women, and their commitment to empowering new generations to pursue their ambitions and elevate the UAE’s international standing.
The expedition took place in one of the harshest environments on Earth, where she faced temperatures dropping below -40°C, severe weather conditions, and powerful winds, requiring exceptional physical endurance and thorough preparation.
