Emirati Fatima Al Awadhi achieves a historic achievement as the youngest and first Arab woman to summit Vinson!

This achievement is the third leg of its ambitious project to climb the Seven Summits, which includes the highest peak on each continent, confirming the strength of the determination of the Emirati youth and their ability to face the most difficult global challenges.

Fatima dedicated this success to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, President of the General Women’s Union and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, in honor of their continued support for Emirati youth and women, and their keenness to enable new generations to achieve their ambitions and raise the UAE’s name high in international forums.

This achievement came after an arduous journey in one of the harshest natural environments in the world, where Fatima faced temperatures below minus 40 degrees Celsius, in addition to strong winds and harsh climatic conditions, which required great physical and mental effort, and high endurance and self-reliance.

Fatima confirmed that climbing Mount Vinson was an exceptional challenge compared to her previous experiences, given its extreme cold and harsh isolation, noting that the expedition took about three weeks in an extremely difficult environment. She added that standing at the summit was a defining moment that strengthened her self-confidence and belief in her ability to face challenges, expressing her attachment to the magnificence and vastness of the Antarctic continent.

She expressed her deep gratitude to the UAE and its wise leadership for the supportive environment it provides that embraces ambitions and opens horizons of achievement for its youth, stressing that raising the country’s flag on the highest peaks reflects the journey of more than five decades of empowerment and investment in people, and embodies the story of a nation built on opportunities and inspiration.

Fatima said: “This achievement is a national message confirming that the people of the Emirates, with the support of their leadership, are capable of reaching the highest peaks and overcoming the most difficult challenges, no matter how harsh the circumstances are. I feel great gratitude to my leadership, my country, and to everyone who contributed to supporting me, especially my family, because today I have not only the right to dream, but the real opportunity to turn dreams into reality.”

As a university student majoring in economics, Fatima stressed the importance of balancing sporting ambition with the academic and professional path, calling on Arab youth, especially girls, to follow their dreams and not postpone their ambitions, stressing that today’s generation is the maker of both the present and the future.

This mission was sponsored by Palms Sports, a leader in sports management and training, in addition to Finance House, the national financial institution that previously supported Fatima in her successful climb to the summit of Mount Elbrus in Europe in 2025, where she then recorded a national achievement as the youngest Emirati to reach its summit. (Sky News)