Naila Kiani from Dubai climbs Mt Manaslu in Nepal

A resident of the United Arab Emirates of Pakistani origin named Naila Kiani has conquered the eighth highest mountain in the world, Mt Manaslu in Nepal. On 21 September 2023, she made the incredible ascent of 8163 metres in 12 hours.

Ms Kiani, 37, wants to become the first woman from the UAE to conquer all 14 mountains in the world over 8,000 metres high. The traveller is now preparing to fly to China to climb Tibetan mountains Shishabangma (8,027 metres) and Cho-Oyu (8,188 metres). According to Ms Kiani, she wants to prove the strength of women with Muslim roots living in the UAE.

In an interview with The National, Naila Kiani revealed the challenges she faced. Although the weather was good during the climb, the climber herself was not healthy and had to take antibiotics. But even her poor health could not prevent her from conquering the difficult height.

As it became known, Naila Kiani took up mountaineering only two years ago. She has already climbed K2, Everest, Lhotse and Annapurna in Nepal, as well as Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I and II in Pakistan and Broad Peak on the border with China.

On the Manaslu expedition, the mountaineer was accompanied by an international support team that included Pakistani, American, Japanese, Macedonian and Nepalese climbers, as well as a small group of Nepalese Sherpas.

The traveller also revealed that only after all 14 mountains over 8,000 metres high have been conquered does she intend to return home. “I’m homesick, so I want to conquer all the other mountains as soon as possible so I can go home and focus on my family and career,” Naila Kiani said. “We can do anything we want to do and I will prove it,” she added.

Source: The National

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