Mountaineer and philanthropist Moe Al Thani has become the first Qatari to summit Ama Dablam mountain, despite COVID-19 obstacles.

Al Thani was joined by Garrett Madison (Madison Mountaineering) lead guide, Elia Saikaly (award-winning filmmaker), Jen Drummon (mountaineer) and Pasang Kaji Sherpa (mountaineer guide) to reach the Ama Dablam summit on November 11, 2020.

Ama Dablam is one of the most beautiful peaks in the world and is the first mountain that took Al Thani’s breath away.

Since 2009, he knew that when the opportunity presented itself he would be ready for the climb to the top.

Although COVID-19 had already canceled his much-anticipated expedition to the North Pole and 2020 did not look like the year for expeditions, amongst high-level sportsmen and sportswomen there is always a will.

COVID-19, however, still presented its challenges in planning this expedition. A trip that normally takes 3 weeks became a 5-week trip, with COVID-19 policies changing last minute in Nepal.

Al Thani only climbs with a purpose. This particular climb is motivated by his passion to inspire others.

He hopes this climb will motivate people to step out of the mental prison this pandemic has put us in and to follow their passions and dreams responsibly.

Furthermore, he hopes this expedition will encourage the local Nepali people, who have not seen tourists in nearly eight months.

Before his arrival and during his time at Sagarmatha National Park, home to Ama Dablam, Al Thani and his team interviewed and spoke to the cab drivers, porters, expedition guides, shop owners, and business owners affected by the travel restrictions due to COVID-19.

He is planning to tell their stories to the world, to share their experiences and unique challenges during this unprecedented global epidemic with an upcoming documentary to be released on YouTube.

Moe is a Qatari philanthropist, mountaineer, entrepreneur, and sportsman. He is the first Qatari to climb to the top of Mount Everest and reach the Seven summits of the world.

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Cover and Inline Images Credit: Elia Saikaly