UAE adventurers to scale Oceania's highest mountain as part of history-making challenge

The only way is up for a pair of UAE adventurers - who are jetting off to Indonesia for the latest leg of a history-making mountain challenge.

Hanady Alhashmi and Tima Deryan will attempt to climb the 4,884 metre Puncak Jaya next month as part of a bold bid to scale the highest mountains in all seven continents.

Alhashmi, from Abu Dhabi, was the first Emirati woman to conquer the 6,190 metre Denali, the highest peak in North America, and has set her sights on making more history.

She is aiming to become the first Emirati woman to complete the 'Seven Summits' challenge - and Puncak Jaya would make it six down and just one to go.

She hopes her efforts will encourage more UAE people to explore - and climb - the mountainous areas of the Middle East.

“We are two women who believe in challenging ourselves and recognize the power and need for self-belief, tolerance and ambition when climbing, all of which are values of the late Sheikh Zayed and the UAE,” said Alhashmi.

Climbing partner Deryan, a Lebanese woman now living in Dubai, has also made it her mountain mission to make it a magnificent seven, too.

She was the first Lebanese mountaineer to summit the highest active volcano, Ojos del Salado and only last week, she summited Mount Kazbek, a 5,033 metre dormant stratovolcano between Georgia and Russia.

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Emirati women describe thrill of climbing South America’s highest peak

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There are variations in the Seven Summit challenge. In Europe, some climb Mont Blanc in the Alps instead of Russia's Mount Elbrus. In Oceania, people chose either Puncak Jaya or Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko.

The core summits are Mount Everest in Asia, Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Kilimanjaro in Africa and Vinson in Antarctica. Puncak Jaya is the highest summit between the Himalayas and the Andes.

The pair will be in Indonesia from September 15 to 27 to tackle the mountain.

Quest Arabia will be sponsoring the climb and following their progress up the mountain by live streaming their journey on its @QuestArabiya social media channels.

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI

National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate

Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead

Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence

Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground

Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile

Company%20Profile

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

MATCH INFO

Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:

Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4

Second leg:

Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm

Tank warfare

Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.

“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.

“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”

Company%20Profile

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TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

City's slump

L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani