Youngest Arab to summit Vinson, 18-year-old Emirati Fatima Al Awadhi, makes history with Antarctica climb and dedicates success to UAE President and Mother of Nation.
ABU DHABI: Emirati mountaineer Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi has become the youngest Arab to summit Vinson, achieving a historic milestone on 6 January 2026 by scaling Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica. Standing at 4,892 metres, the 18-year-old climber is now the first Arab and youngest from the region to conquer the continent’s tallest mountain.
The feat marks her third successful climb in her quest to complete the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent. Al Awadhi dedicated her achievement to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, in gratitude for their vision and support of youth and women empowerment.
The youngest Arab to summit Vinson completed the demanding expedition in extreme Antarctic conditions, with temperatures plunging below minus 40 degrees Celsius. The expedition was sponsored by Palms Sports, a UAE-based sports and training organisation that empowers youth through endurance sports and outdoor challenges.
Speaking after her return, Al Awadhi described the climb as the most intense challenge of her life. “At first, Vinson’s harshness frightened me,” she said. “But reaching the summit reminded me how much strength lies within us. Antarctica didn’t break me, it built me.”
She also expressed deep gratitude to the UAE’s leadership for nurturing a society that enables its youth to dream big. “Raising the UAE flag atop the world’s highest peaks shows that our ambitions are limitless,” she said. “This country has allowed me to chase my dreams, and I’m determined to give back.”
As the youngest Arab to summit Vinson, Al Awadhi hopes her achievement inspires Arab youth, especially young women, to pursue bold goals. “We are not the future; we are the present,” she said. “There’s no need to wait, we can start climbing our mountains now, in any field.”
The expedition was also supported by Dar Al Takaful Finance, which had previously sponsored her Mount Elbrus climb in 2025. With this new summit under her belt, Al Awadhi moves one step closer to completing the prestigious Explorer’s Grand Slam — a challenge involving the Seven Summits and reaching both the North and South Poles.
