Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Thani, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) also happens to be an accomplished mountaineer and adventurer, and has successfully raised the UAE flag at the Seven Summits of the world.
After reaching the summit of Denali in Alaska, al-Thani became one of just 350 mountaineers in the world who have climed the highest peaks on each continent.
Speaking to reporters, al-Thani said the Denali Summit proved to be one of the most challenging ascensions he has undertaken in his mountaineering career, with his 28-day trip hampered by extremely bad weather conditions that saw him exposed to storms and wind speeds of 50 miles per hour. "The success in this final Seven Summits' climb would not have been possible without patience, strong will and determination," he said
Climbing the Seven Summits is considered a particularly tough challenge for even the most experienced mountaineers. It involves reaching the top of mountains that include Mount Everest in Asia, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Mount Kosciusko in Australia, and Denali in Alaska, North America.
"I am extremely proud of having hoisted the UAE flag on the tallest peaks on each one of the word's seven continents, which is the culmination of a tiring schedule of thousands of hours of training and hard work. Like other adventurers taking on demanding challenges, I have been through several risks and difficulties, but success in reaching these peaks has made all the effort worthwhile," said al-Thani.
Al-Thani told Khaleej Times that he began his journey of climbing the world's tallest peaks with Mount Kilimanjaro on October 25, 2010. He followed this first success with the scaling of Mount Vinson, the tallest mountain in Antarctica, reaching its peak on December 25, 2011.
On August 28, 2012, al-Thani reached the peak of Mount Elbrus - the highest point in Europe - and on October 11, 2012, he climbed Mount Kosciuszko, Australia. On January 5, 2013, he reached the summit of Mount Aconcagua, South America, the tallest peak in the western hemisphere. Al-Thani's penultimate success was the mounting of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, on May 22, 2013.
To reach the highest points on the world's seven continents, al-Thani travelled to Tanzania, Australia, Nepal, Russia, the United States, Argentina and Antarctica. Harsh weather conditions were a particular challenge, where temperatures regularly dropped to minus 30 degrees Celsius.
"I believe we must set our targets high and dedicate ourselves to pursuing them despite all obstacles, because beautiful and great things in one's life do not come easily. With effort, persistence and commitment, what was impossible yesterday becomes possible today. I am extremely happy with this achievement, which I dedicate to the UAE and to my adventurer friends everywhere," al-Thani added.
Editor's note: This article has been edited from the source material.
