ISLAMABAD: Nayla Nasir Al-Baloushi, who this month became the first Emirati woman to climb Mount Everest, says she is now planning to climb some of the world’s highest mountains located in Pakistan.
Al-Baloushi summitted Mount Everest (8,849 m) on May 14, after three months of preparations.
Nayla Nasir Albaloushi, the first Emirati woman who climbed Mt Everest, poses for a photograph at the top of Mount Everest, Nepal on May 14, 2022. (Courtesy: Nayla Nasir Albaloushi)
The world’s highest mountain was her first eighthousander.
“I have not done any peaks of 8,000 before Everest,” she told Arab News over the phone on Wednesday evening. “I will climb more peaks of Nepal and Pakistan.”
Five out of the world’s highest mountains — standing over 8,000 meters — are located in Pakistan: K2 (8,611 m), Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), Gasherbrum I (8,080 m), Broad Peak (8,051 m), and Gasherbrum II (8,035 m).
Nayla Nasir Albaloushi, the first Emirati woman who climbed Mt Everest, poses for a photograph while crossing a snow-ravine at Mount Everest, Nepal on May 5, 2022. (Courtesy: Nayla Nasir Albaloushi)
Al-Baloushi became a mountaineer only two years ago, after summiting the tallest peak of Ukraine, Hoverla (2,061 m). Her next expeditions included Mount Ararat (5,140 m) in Turkey and Mount Cameroon (4,090 m).
Last year, she also attempted to scale Pakistan's Broad Peak, but had to abandon her expedition due to weather issues.
“The experience of Pakistan’s mountains was good,” she said. “Unfortunately, I had to return from the height of 7,300 m due to bad weather conditions.”
Her most recent achievement was inspired by her husband, Saeed Al-Memari, who scaled Mount Everest in 2011 and was the first Emirati man to do so.
“He summited Mount Everest three times as the first Emirati man. So, I decided to be the first Emirati woman to climb Everest,” she said. “And I made it!”
