Emirati teenager sets sights on Lenin Peak in pursuit of Seven Summits

Emirati mountaineer Fatima Al Awadhi is preparing to climb Lenin Peak in the Pamir mountain range on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan later this month as part of her mission to complete the Seven Summits challenge.

The climb is part of the 18-year-old's quest to achieve the Explorer's Grand Slam, which combines climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, and ski the last degree to both the North and South Poles.

The latest expedition follows a series of milestones that saw Fatima become the youngest Arab to summit Vinson Massif and Carstensz Pyramid, and the youngest Emirati to climb Mount Elbrus.

Fatima's attempt to scale the 7,134-metre Lenin Peak is being undertaken under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reflecting the UAE leadership's support for young people and their pursuit of achievements across various fields.

Fatima discovered her passion for mountaineering through the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award programme while in secondary school, before setting herself the goal of completing the Seven Summits challenge before the age of 20.

The teenager said the support of the UAE President has been a major source of motivation. She added that her goal is to raise the UAE flag on the world's highest peaks and inspire young people to embrace challenges and turn their ambitions into achievements.

Looking ahead, Fatima’s sights are firmly set on completing the Seven Summits challenge and achieving another sporting milestone by conquering Mount Everest and Lhotse in a double-summit within 24 hours.