All-female UAE armed forces team return from Everest base camp

Cadets making the trip to Everest base camp. Courtesy UAE Armed Forces

ABU DHABI // Twelve women from the UAE Armed Forces returned home Saturday after climbing 5,364 metres to reach the Mount Everest base camp in the Khumbu valley in Nepal.

The all-female team, which included nine military climbers, two trainers and a doctor, was welcomed back by a number of senior military officers at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

President Sheikh Khalifa, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces have supported Emirati women by launching a number of ambitious programmes enabling them to be partners of men in various fields of national work.

The Emirati climbers were also supported by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, GWU, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, as part of her commitment to empowering women and supporting them in all domains.

Meanwhile, a 16-man UAE Armed Forces team are at base camp undergoing intensive training on equipment and preparations for their attempt to become the first official military team in the region to reach the summit. Dr Hashel Obaid Al Tunaiji, one of the team members and the doctor accompanying the mission, said that all team members are in good health and have gradually adapted to the high altitudes and the decreasing levels of oxygen.

The next stage for them is to proceed to cross the Khumbu Icefall, a dangerous stage that must be passed by climbers in order to lead them to advanced camps and reach Mount Everest’s summit.