Sheikha Asma Al Thani, holding the UNHCR Flag at the Summit of Mt. Everest. © Suman Gurung
(Last updated 20 April 2023). The UNHCR flag has reached the highest summit in the world, as Sheikha Asma Al Thani proudly raised it atop Mount Everest, becoming the first Qatari woman and the first Arab to climb seven of the Earth’s highest peaks above 8,000 meters.
The pioneering mountaineer, who is also a UNHCR high-profile supporter, has summited the four tallest mountains in the world, namely Mount Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga and Lhotse, in less that two months. A feat no other Arab has achieved to date.
Her journey not only aims to set records, but also to empower women and raise her voice for a great humanitarian cause.
“As I pushed my limits and struggled to reach the top, I couldn’t help but think of the millions of refugees who embark on dangerous journeys to reach safety,” said Sheikha Asma Al Thani upon reaching the summit of Mount Everest on 7 June 2022.
Sheikha Asma Al Thani climbing to the peak of Mt. Everest. © Suman Gurung
Commenting on this wonderful achievement, UNHCR Representative to the State of Qatar, Ayat El Dewary, said: “By raising the UNHCR flag at the highest peak in the world, Asma sends a strong message of solidarity with refugees and the forcibly displaced. With more than 100 million people forced to leave their homes in search of safety, this symbolic moment could not have come at a better time. It is a strong reminder to everyone of the plight of refugees and the need, now more than ever, to stand with the millions of lives uprooted by conflict.”
“I commend this inspiring woman on her remarkable journey, and I couldn’t be more proud of UNHCR’s partnership with her, through which the refugee cause is raised very high around the world,” El-Dewary added.
Sheikha Asma Al Thani raises the UNHCR Flag at Denali. © Mingma David Sherpa
But Al Thani’s journey did not end there. After Mount Everest, she successfully climbed the peak of Denali, the highest summit in North America, on 17 June 2022, and then set to conquer K2, the second highest peak in the world a short month later.
“I am truly honoured to have my name in the history books, but I am climbing for something so much bigger than me. I am climbing for the tens of millions of refugees and forcibly displaced people around the world,” said Al Thani upon reaching the summit of K2 on 22 July 2022.
Sheikha Asma Al Thani raises the UNHCR Flag at the summit of K2. © Sheikha Asma Al Thani
Sheikha Asma Al Thani is set to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam and she is currently one summit away from achieving this. She is the first Arab to climb six of the seven highest summits on each continent and ski the North and South poles. Moreover, with her recent quests, she also became the first Arab to summit seven out of the fourteen peaks above 8,000 meters.
UNHCR’s partnership with Sheikha Asma Al Thani began shortly before her winter expedition in Antarctica, where she climbed the highest peak in the South Pole, Mount Vinson, beginning of 2022. With common goals of raising awareness on the situation of refugees and advocating for the rights of those forced to flee due to conflict and persecution, Sheikha Asma Al Thani’s journey will continue to be a voice for the forcibly displaced.
Sheikha Asma Al Thani, holding the UNHCR Flag at the summit of Mt. Lhotse. © Suman Gurung
Sheikha Asma Al Thani standing at the summit of Mt. Lhotse. © Suman Gurung
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