The first Arab woman mountaineer, who conquered Mount Everest, now plans to climb one of the 7,000-metre peaks in Pakistan.
Suzanne Al Houby termed Pakistan a fascinating place blessed with mountains offering unique opportunities for mountaineering. She pointed out that Pakistan had five out of the total 14 (8,000 metres) high peaks.
Replying to a question, she said she scaled Mount Everest in May 2011 but in Pakistan she could not do any expedition due to different targets elsewhere. “But this time, I am very serious about it,” she said.
Houby said the thrilling sport of mountaineering was something more than hobby. “It’s in fact a passion, which makes one to forget about the high stakes involved. I understand that any mistake or mishap can bring life of a mountaineer to an end, but the fear for life cannot deter me from carrying out my plans as a climber,” she said.
Suzzane Al Houby, who originally hails from Jaffa, Palestine, got her higher education in the United States and lived most of her life in the UAE. She currently lives in Dubai where she runs an adventure travel company.
Besides being a mountaineer, Houby is a globetrotter, a humanitarian and an environmentalist.
In January 2014, Suzanne led the first two Arab amputees up to the summit of Kilimanjaro on a project aimed at raising both awareness and funds for treating sick children in conflict areas in affiliation with Palestine Children Relief Fund. Mutassem Abu Karsh and Yasmeen Najjar – both with prosthetic legs – became the first Arab amputees to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Before climbing the Mount Everest, she had the honour of being the first Arab woman to reach Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe), Elbruz (Europe), Aconcagua (South America) and Vinson Massif (Antarctica).
Al Houby was also the first Palestinian woman to conquer Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.
She is also a co-founder and a vice chairwoman of Emirates Arthritis Foundation established under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain.
