Eighteen-year-old Emirati mountaineer Fatima Al Awadhi is set to embark on her latest journey. Already recognised as the youngest Arab to summit Mount Vinson and Carstensz Pyramid, and the youngest Emirati to summit Mount Elbrus, Fatima is on a mission to conquer the Seven Summits and eventually the prestigious Explorer’s Grand Slam, starting with her ascent of Lenin Peak this month.
The Explorer’s Grand Slam is one of the ultimate challenges in human endurance, requiring adventurers to climb the Seven Summits (the highest peak on each of the seven continents) and ski the last degree to both the North and South Poles.
Fatima’s journey is personal. Her path to the world’s highest peaks began during a difficult period in high school. While her father was in a coma, she joined the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award scheme as a way to navigate her grief. Her first trek through the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal quickly ignited a passion for mountaineering. Sitting around a campfire in the Himalayas, Fatima set herself the goal of completing the Seven Summits before the age of 20 while studying full-time at high school and later at university.
Despite her young age, the Abu Dhabi born mountaineer’s achievements are already remarkable. She first summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, marking her entry into mountaineering. She then set her sights on Europe, summiting Mount Elbrus to become the youngest Emirati to do so, followed by ascents of Mount Vinson Massif and Carstensz Pyramid.
This month, Fatima will take on her highest elevation yet: Lenin Peak in the Pamir Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, rising 7,134 metres above sea level. The expedition is being undertaken under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
Fatima said: “I am deeply grateful for the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Our father, Sheikh Mohamed, is my role model, and to me, he is the highest summit among all other peaks. His patronage reflects the vision of a leader who invests in and empowers the nation’s youth. What began as a personal goal has grown into an opportunity to represent my country and demonstrate the resilience, capability, and ambition of the people of the UAE.
‘’My journey goes beyond summits and records. A story does not end with the person who tells it; it creates movement in those who hear it. I hope my story encourages others to say yes to unfamiliar paths, step outside their comfort zones, and embrace challenges they never thought possible. No matter how difficult life becomes, we all have the ability to rise, rebuild, and shape a different future.”
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Fatima’s journey is the world she returns to between expeditions: a university lecture hall. Alongside her full-time studies in Economics, Fatima balances every aspect of her mountaineering journey, managing months of physical preparation, technical training, logistical coordination, travel, and recovery, while continuing her academic pursuits.
Her timeline of achievements is remarkable: Her first true mountaineering expedition on a 5,000 metre peak took place in July 2025. Just one year later, she is attempting to summit a 7,000 metre peak having already secured four of the Seven Summits.
Looking ahead, Fatima aims to break the regional record while attempting to ascent Mount Everest (8,848.86 metres) and Lhotse ((8,516 metres) in a double-summit within 24 hours.
