As the world overcomes its obstacles, Qatar’s Fahad Badar is conquering mountains.

We’re always trying to climb towards bigger and better things, that’s what we say anyway, and yet hardly know anyone that takes that saying literally. Well, until now. Meet Fahad Badar, a Qatari high-altitude climber, adventure seeker and banking executive leader who set out on a mission and came back with yet another mountain added to his resume.

Having conquered Mount Everest and Lhotse in a single trip, and as the first Arab man no less, Badar set his sights high on the summit of Ama Dablam in Nepal, on January 14, 2021. Ama Dablam-which translates to “mother’s necklace” — is a life changing ascent. Located in the Nepalese Himalayas, Ama Dablam is a daunting peak rising 6,856 meters in elevation. It’s a popular mountaineering destination for experienced mountaineers, not only for its incredible natural appeal but also for the exhilarating challenges that accompany the climb.

Climbing a mountain is challenging enough, and even harder when mother nature is not on your side, as was the case for Badar’s journey. Winter expeditions are a real challenge for any mountaineer who desires to break the limits, and this bundled with the pandemic surely required skills and strength along with technical knowledge and endurance. All these conditions tested Fahad’s abilities and resilience, providing fundamental experiences that will be useful in his upcoming trips.

Now you might ask, what is so special about Ama Dablam in winter? Besides the thrilling climbing routes made of snow, ice, and rock, the expedition itself has a higher level of difficulty due to the season. Due to its immense altitude and geographic location, Ama Dablam can only be climbed at two points in the year: from April to May or September to October. But Fahad was looking for a little more challenge and started his expedition in December 2020. Looks like he was really tired of his couch after quarantine.

“I was looking forward to reaching the summit of Ama Dablam. It’s been quite a long time since I’ve been away from the mountains, and I have the need to return to the place where I feel the most alive,” said Badar, in conversation with FACT’s Chirine Halabi.

Besides the glory of standing on the roof of the world, Badar is bringing a sense of pride to the Arab community and we can’t wait to see where he goes next.

GO: Follow @fahad917 on Instagram for more updates on Fahad Badar’s expeditions.