Nadhirah al Harthy, whose name is a synonym for conquering the world's peaks, has a tale of friendship to tell, a story where humanity and compassion are highlighted and can be etched in the annals of the Sultanate of Oman-Saudi friendship history.
Nadhirah made the national flag of the Sultanate of Oman fly high atop the world's 8th peak at 8,163 metres ASL, Manaslu in Nepal in September, 2021.
But when she became the first Arab woman and the second Omani to reach the summit of Mount Ama Dablam (6,812 metres), which is one of the highest Himalayan peaks in the hilly country of Nepal in May 2019, it was the company of Saudi mountaineer Mona Shahab who stood by her and kept the team going till the zenith of the freezing point and leave a mark there.
"Mona Shahab is nothing short of the expression 'human embodiment of angel' because we all were so impressed by her kindness, love, care and above all, very ambitious," said Nadhirah.
The “Dream of Everest" team also had Joyce Azzam and Nelly Attar of Lebanon as part of all Arab women’s team to conquer the winderness of the world’s tallest mountain.
"Mona had been a perfect companion and she extended all mutual support and was an epitome of true Saudi hospitality," said Nadhirah.
Mona Shahab, the second Saudi woman to successfully summit the Mount Everest, hails from the Eastern Province in Saudi and was born and brought up in the kingdom. She started a GoFundMe page for her Everest climb that raised heavily for charity across the world, besides Marwa Fayed’s Toy Run (MFTR) which seeks to empower underprivileged children in Egypt.
"What I have noticed about Mona is that she always climbed for a cause. Be it raising funds for orphans or to support the victims of any disaster or for people suffering from a war, she would be in the forefront of the support."
After their joint venturing atop the Everest, she has been branded as an inspiration for thousands of women in the Kingdom and always wanted to climb the Sultanate of Oman's Jebel Shams," said Nadhirah.
She had climbed four of the “Seven Summits” and raised more than $350,000 for charities before she set out for the mission to scale the tallest mountain in the world.
"This friendship that me an Omani and Mona a Saudi will get stronger and stronger as we are planning many such international records between the two countries. She always tells the youth to follow one's dream whatever it may be and at whatever the age he or she is because only your attitude can limit your altitude," Al Harthy adds.
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