Youngest Emirati girl to climb highest peak in Atlas range honoured
sharjah — After six days of trekking and climbing in Morocco, 13-yearold Asmaa Al Qayedi has established herself as the youngest Emirati girl to have summited the highest peak in the Arab region — Tokubal. It is the tallest peak in the Atlas mountain range boasting an elevation of 4,167 metres.
Sajaya Young Ladies (SYL) of Sharjah, who organised this great expedition, honoured the 11 girls who were part of this adventure. The honouring ceremony was attended by Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council; Sheikha Aisha Khalid Al Qasimi, director of SYL; Waleed Bukhater, vice-chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Bukhater Group; Lau Samuel of Kingston Management; and famous Emirati adventurer Saeed Al-Ma’amari.
The journey took the girls on a trek through Marrakesh and the village of Imlil, before they began
We want to express to our young adventurers how proud we are of them for achieving this big feat, and how happy we were to see them apply all the values they are taught here at Sajaya — determination, patience and confidence.” Sheikha Aisha Khalid Al Qasimi, director, Sajaya Young Ladies
ascending Toubkal in southwestern Morocco.
Asma, the youngest member of the Sajaya team on this climb, gave the UAE a new athletic achievement in the field of women’s sports. Upon reaching the summit, the young mountaineers hoisted the Sajaya and the UAE flags at the Tokubal peak.
Sheikha Aisha of SYL said: “Our aim was to build the first Emirati girls’ team specialised in hiking and mountaineering, in line with our vision to promote awareness of the importance of sports for girls, increase their abilities to discover themselves and achieve their goals, and focus on their holistic development by offering them unique and innovative avenues of exploration and creativity.
“We want to express to our young adventurers how proud we are of them for achieving this big feat, and how happy we were to see them apply all the values they are taught here at Sajaya — determination, patience and confidence — every step of the way on this challenging journey. In summiting the highest peak in the Arab region, our young climbers have not only added a new laurel to the UAE’s achievements, but also come a long way in fortifying their minds, bodies and souls,” she added.