Raha Moharrak

Saudi Arabia's first female mountaineer to summit all seven summits

Raha Moharrak made history in 2013 as the first Saudi Arabian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and later became the first Saudi woman to complete the Seven Summits challenge by climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents. Her achievements shattered cultural norms in her conservative homeland while inspiring global conversations about gender equality in adventure sports. Moharrak's 2015 ascent of Vinson Massif in Antarctica marked her completion of the seven summits, a feat documented in her memoir 《Touching the Sky》.

Born in Jeddah, she faced significant societal resistance but gained support from her family and the Saudi Arabian mountaineering federation. Her 2017 documentary "The Summit Seeker" (produced by National Geographic) chronicles her journey and the challenges of balancing cultural expectations with personal ambition. She founded The Raha Moharrak Foundation to support young Saudi women pursuing outdoor adventures.

Moharrak's advocacy led to policy changes allowing women to participate in mountaineering expeditions through official Saudi teams. Her work with UN Women's HeForShe campaign promotes gender equality in sports. As a board member of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), she advocates for women's participation in high-altitude sports. Her 2021 TED Talk "The Mountain That Changed My Life" has over 2 million views, inspiring a new generation of female adventurers.