Dubai resident Naila Kiani summits world's third highest mountain
Dubai resident and Pakistan's pride and mountaineering icon, Naila Kiani, on Friday morning, at 4:44am (UAE Standard Time, has successfully summited Kanchenjunga (8,586 metre) — the world's third highest mountain, situated in Nepal, becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer this formidable peak.
This remarkable achievement makes her only the second Muslim woman in history to climb 12 of the planet's 14 peaks above 8,000 metres, accomplished by 16 women historically.
Naila is not only a mountaineer but a change-maker. She has led environmental campaigns, such as a high-altitude cleanup at K2 , and a recovery mission for Pakistani porter Muhammad Hassan Shigri, bringing closure to his grieving family.
As a mother of two, a former banker, and a passionate advocate for sustainable climbing, Naila defies traditional molds and inspires a new generation of Pakistanis, especially young women, to dream beyond the boundaries placed before them.
Naila Kiani with her team members wave Pakistan's national flag at Kanchenjunga mountain.
Before starting the summit push, through a message to her team, Naila had said, 'Climbing Kanchenjunga has been an incredibly difficult expedition and a harsh reminder of how hard it is to climb mountains over 8,000m.' 'Kanchenjunga is known for its treacherous terrains and unpredictable weather,' she added.
Living in Dubai and proudly sponsored by the BARD Foundation, Kiani credits both the UAE's ambitious spirit and her sponsor's rock-solid belief in her potential as key forces behind her journey.
'The UAE has been more than just my home, it has been the gateway to everything I dared to dream,' said Kiani after the summit. 'This is a country that doesn't just believe in the impossible, it makes it happen.'
Naila Kiani credits the UAE's ambitious spirit as a key force behind her journey.
'Behind Naila's extraordinary pursuit of the world's highest peaks stands a consistent force, the BARD Foundation. Their continued support is not just a partnership, but a commitment to seeing her through to the summit and beyond.'
Abdul Razak Dawood, President - BARD Foundation, praised the historic nature of her achievement.
'What Naila has achieved is historic. Her drive, integrity, and purpose embody the values of the BARD Foundation. We believe in backing talent that breaks barriers, and Naila is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when ambition meets opportunity.'
Naila began her summit push at 5:30pm UAE time on Thursday after a full day of climbing.
Battling through the night in brutal high altitude conditions, facing heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and dangerous terrain, she reached the summit of Kanchenjunga in the early hours of Friday (May 23) .
Her endurance and courage under such conditions reflect not only her personal grit but also the relentless pursuit of excellence fostered by her home in the UAE.
Naila has already summited 11 out of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000m, including Everest, K2, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, Annapurna, Lhotse, Manaslu, Makalu and Cho Oyu.
The 14 Peak Challenge remains one of the greatest tests in mountaineering: only 14 mountains on Earth rise above 8,000 metres, each posing deadly risks and extreme physical demands.
With 12 summits now behind her, Naila is closer than ever to completing this elite challenge.
Born in Pakistan, studied at university in the United Kingdom, and shaped by a decade of life in Dubai, Naila embodies the multidimensional identity of the modern Muslim woman. She is an aerospace engineer, banker, mother of two, competitive boxer, and co founder of the AI startup Aiyah.ai.
In 2023, she was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian honour, becoming the first and only sportswoman in the nation's history to receive the distinction. But her journey transcends borders, sending a global message of what is possible when courage meets opportunity and when belief, both institutional and personal, fuels the climb.
As Naila prepares for the final two 8,000 metre peaks, she stands not only on the edge of mountaineering history but as a symbol of what women, Muslims, and Dubai based athletes can achieve on the world stage.
Earlier, it was reported that Kiani was in Nepal preparing for her next formidable challenge: summiting Kanchenjunga (8,586 metres), the third-highest mountain in the world.
This expedition marks another powerful stride in her mission to become one of the few climbers globally, and among an even more elite group of women, to scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres.
A recipient of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of the highest civilian honours, Kiani is a modern symbol of resilience, diversity, and multidimensional success.
An aerospace engineer, competitive boxer, mother of two, and tech entrepreneur of Aiyah.ai, she is also the founder of Naila Kiani Adventures, a travel and expedition company.
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The National
15 hours ago
- The National
Dubai adventurer tells how tragedy and 'toxic' climbing culture made her question historic mountain quest
Fierce competition among elite climbers at the rooftop of the world forced one Dubai climber to reconsider her challenge to become the first Pakistani woman to summit the 14 highest peaks on the planet. Former banker Naila Kiani thought long and hard about resuming her challenge before taking on Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586 metres), the third-highest mountain in the world, on May 23, almost two years since her last climb. With 11 mountain climbs in the bag in 2023, Ms Kiani looked set to achieve her goal before tragedy struck during a competitive climb of Shishapangma that claimed the lives of four of her colleagues. An avalanche at 7,800 metres cost the lives of Anna Gutu and Gina Rzucidlo, who were racing to become the first American women to achieve the feat of scaling 14 mountains above 8,000 metres. Their Sherpa guides Migmar Sherpa and Tenjen Lama also perished during the climb on October 7. Mount Shishapangma was the final peak left for both women to complete the big 14. Those tragedies caused Ms Kiani to reflect on her own attempt to join an elite band of 16 women to compete the mountaineering endeavour. 'At the time of the accident there was a toxic competition among climbers to achieve their goals, but the mountain wasn't ready,' Ms Kiani, a mother of two, told The National after arriving back in Dubai from Nepal. 'There was fresh snow, which can be dangerous, but everybody still went ahead because there were two women competing to be the first American to climb the 14 peaks. That year, I had already climbed eight mountains in less than six months. I wanted to complete this challenge as soon as possible, but last year, after everything that happened, I nearly gave up." One climb at a time As she returned to training early this year, and after much soul-searching, Ms Kiani refocused on first scaling Kanchenjunga – the highest mountain in India. Before completing her expedition to the peak, she endured a crucial phase of acclimatisation at a 6,400-metre base camp to adapt her body to the extreme altitude. This process underscores the physical and mental discipline required for such a treacherous climb, and is a critical aspect of every climb at altitude. Having already successfully summited 11 of the 14 highest mountains on Earth, including Everest, K2, Annapurna, Lhotse and Makalu, Ms Kiani hopes that by resuming her challenge, she can inspire others. 'Unfortunately the last few years for climbing has turned into this competition to be the best, rather than an opportunity to use the mountains to develop yourself, learn and become a better person,' she said. 'What happened in Shishapangma is a really good example of how the mountain conditions were ignored because people got complacent and thought they were invincible after climbing 13 mountains. 'We never imagined for a second there could be an accident. Bad weather conditions are ignored just because of this competitive mindset. Most Pakistani women, especially after getting married and having kids, 95 per cent of them don't follow their passion. I had a lot of messages from around the world encouraging me to continue, which I found inspiring. I have a bigger purpose to carry on, but definitely the incident put me off for many months.' Before looking towards revisiting the challenge of climbing Shishapangma later this year, Ms Kiani faces weeks of preparation. Summer training That will now take place in September, before she plans to complete the set of mountain peaks by climbing the 8,167-metre Dhaulagiri in Nepal in April 2026. Until then, she will spend the summer in Dubai, and use the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah as training grounds. 'Living in Dubai, all I can do is go hiking and get in the gym to focus on my strength training and cardio,' said Ms Kiani. 'Sometimes I hike during peak summer hours because in the mountain when the sun is out, the UV rays get reflected and we are wearing down suits which makes it really hot, so the training environment is very useful. 'Of course we need to keep in mind the dehydration, and not to put ourselves on risk. I once got hit by a rock in the UAE and I got stuck in a flash flood, so anything can happen, even here. 'Whether it's a small mountain or a big mountain, safety is always priority, but I'm confident I will come back safely to my children. On every mountain, I keep praying for a safe summit.'
Khaleej Times
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- Khaleej Times
Nepali 'Everest Man' breaks own record with 31st summit in 3 decades
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Gulf Today
23-05-2025
- Gulf Today
Dubai resident Naila Kiani summits world's third highest mountain
Dubai resident and Pakistan's pride and mountaineering icon, Naila Kiani, on Friday morning, at 4:44am (UAE Standard Time, has successfully summited Kanchenjunga (8,586 metre) — the world's third highest mountain, situated in Nepal, becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer this formidable peak. This remarkable achievement makes her only the second Muslim woman in history to climb 12 of the planet's 14 peaks above 8,000 metres, accomplished by 16 women historically. Naila is not only a mountaineer but a change-maker. She has led environmental campaigns, such as a high-altitude cleanup at K2 , and a recovery mission for Pakistani porter Muhammad Hassan Shigri, bringing closure to his grieving family. As a mother of two, a former banker, and a passionate advocate for sustainable climbing, Naila defies traditional molds and inspires a new generation of Pakistanis, especially young women, to dream beyond the boundaries placed before them. Naila Kiani with her team members wave Pakistan's national flag at Kanchenjunga mountain. Before starting the summit push, through a message to her team, Naila had said, 'Climbing Kanchenjunga has been an incredibly difficult expedition and a harsh reminder of how hard it is to climb mountains over 8,000m.' 'Kanchenjunga is known for its treacherous terrains and unpredictable weather,' she added. Living in Dubai and proudly sponsored by the BARD Foundation, Kiani credits both the UAE's ambitious spirit and her sponsor's rock-solid belief in her potential as key forces behind her journey. 'The UAE has been more than just my home, it has been the gateway to everything I dared to dream,' said Kiani after the summit. 'This is a country that doesn't just believe in the impossible, it makes it happen.' Naila Kiani credits the UAE's ambitious spirit as a key force behind her journey. 'Behind Naila's extraordinary pursuit of the world's highest peaks stands a consistent force, the BARD Foundation. Their continued support is not just a partnership, but a commitment to seeing her through to the summit and beyond.' Abdul Razak Dawood, President - BARD Foundation, praised the historic nature of her achievement. 'What Naila has achieved is historic. Her drive, integrity, and purpose embody the values of the BARD Foundation. We believe in backing talent that breaks barriers, and Naila is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when ambition meets opportunity.' Naila began her summit push at 5:30pm UAE time on Thursday after a full day of climbing. Battling through the night in brutal high altitude conditions, facing heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and dangerous terrain, she reached the summit of Kanchenjunga in the early hours of Friday (May 23) . Her endurance and courage under such conditions reflect not only her personal grit but also the relentless pursuit of excellence fostered by her home in the UAE. Naila has already summited 11 out of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000m, including Everest, K2, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, Annapurna, Lhotse, Manaslu, Makalu and Cho Oyu. The 14 Peak Challenge remains one of the greatest tests in mountaineering: only 14 mountains on Earth rise above 8,000 metres, each posing deadly risks and extreme physical demands. With 12 summits now behind her, Naila is closer than ever to completing this elite challenge. Born in Pakistan, studied at university in the United Kingdom, and shaped by a decade of life in Dubai, Naila embodies the multidimensional identity of the modern Muslim woman. She is an aerospace engineer, banker, mother of two, competitive boxer, and co founder of the AI startup In 2023, she was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian honour, becoming the first and only sportswoman in the nation's history to receive the distinction. But her journey transcends borders, sending a global message of what is possible when courage meets opportunity and when belief, both institutional and personal, fuels the climb. As Naila prepares for the final two 8,000 metre peaks, she stands not only on the edge of mountaineering history but as a symbol of what women, Muslims, and Dubai based athletes can achieve on the world stage. Earlier, it was reported that Kiani was in Nepal preparing for her next formidable challenge: summiting Kanchenjunga (8,586 metres), the third-highest mountain in the world. This expedition marks another powerful stride in her mission to become one of the few climbers globally, and among an even more elite group of women, to scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres. A recipient of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of the highest civilian honours, Kiani is a modern symbol of resilience, diversity, and multidimensional success. An aerospace engineer, competitive boxer, mother of two, and tech entrepreneur of she is also the founder of Naila Kiani Adventures, a travel and expedition company.
