Emirati Teen Becomes the Youngest Arab Woman to Climb Antarctica’s Pea
At 18, Emirati Fatima Al Awadhi becomes youngest Arab woman to summit Antarctica’s highest peak, aiming for the Seven Summits.
At just 18, Emirati mountaineer Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi has made history, becoming the youngest Arab woman to reach the summit of Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s tallest peak at 4,892 metres. The climb marks her third major ascent in pursuit of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent.
The expedition tested endurance in one of the world’s harshest environments, with sub-zero temperatures dropping below minus 40 degrees Celsius, relentless winds, and weeks of isolation. Al Awadhi’s climb underscores the emergence of Arab women in high-altitude mountaineering, and the UAE’s growing presence in adventure sports.
The climb was supported by UAE-based sponsors Palms Sports and Dar Al Takaful Finance, who have backed her previous climbs, including her record-setting ascent of Mount Elbrus last year. With Vinson behind her, Al Awadhi now sets her sights on completing the Explorer’s Grand Slam - a challenge involving the Seven Summits and both poles - further cementing her place as a role model for youth and women in adventure sports worldwide.
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