Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi reached the summit of Lenin Peak in the Pamir Mountains of Kyrgyzstan on July18, 2026, becoming the first Emirati and the youngest Arab to climb above 7,000 metres. She was 19 years old.
The peak, which stands at 7,134 metres, is considered one of Central Asia’s most demanding high-altitude mountains, known for extreme weather, glaciated terrain, and prolonged exposure at altitude. Al Awadhi completed the ascent without supplementary oxygen.
The three-week expedition was structured in two phases: an acclimatisation rotation up the mountain followed by the final summit push. At the top, she raised the UAE flag, the first time it has been carried to Lenin Peak’s summit, alongside a message to young people worldwide from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The climb is the highest of Al Awadhi’s career to date, and comes just a year after she summited Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, in her first major mountaineering expedition. She already holds records as the youngest Emirati to summit Elbrus and the youngest Arab to reach the tops of Vinson Massif in Antarctica and Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania, having also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
With four of the Seven Summits now completed, she is targeting the full set before her 20th birthday, alongside the Explorer’s Grand Slam.
Al Awadhi balances her climbing with full-time university studies. She holds both the Presidential Court University Scholarship and the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholarship for Outstanding High School Students.
“Standing on the summit of Lenin Peak with the UAE flag wasn’t just the end of a climb; it was a reminder of why I started this journey in the first place. Mountaineering has taught me that the greatest rewards come from embracing challenges. I’m incredibly grateful to have climbed under the patronage of our father, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His support reflects a belief in empowering young people to dream big and pursue ambitious goals. I hope this achievement encourages others, especially young Emiratis and young women, to believe in what’s possible when you work for it,” she said in a statement.
She dedicated the achievement to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.
