how it started

Sports changed my life, and I aspire to change the world through sports.

I am an extreme sports athlete, coach, and sports entrepreneur. While many know me today as the first Arab to scale K2, along with other major peaks like Everest, Lhotse, and Aconcagua, my journey didn’t begin with climbing—or even with sports.

In 2012, I started off my career as a psychologist (MRes in Psychology) and life coach. I worked in the mental health field across diverse and challenging environments for four years - from Lebanese prisons and UNRWA, to working with patients with brain injury at a rehabilitation hospital in Saudi Arabia. My work was dedicated to helping people through therapy. Yet, in my personal life, I found my own form of therapy through movement—exercise and dance became my escape, my source of strength.

move

In 2017, I took a leap of faith and transitioned from mental health to sports. My mission was clear: to help provide women in Saudi Arabia, with access to sports at a time when the Kingdom was ranked among the least active countries in the world.

I understood the profound impact movement could have on mental and physical well-being, and I wanted to be part of that change. With no major funding or resources, I started a small movement community in a warehouse within my stepfather’s office building. What began as a humble initiative quickly gained momentum, evolving into MOVE—Saudi Arabia’s first-ever dance studio. The impact was beyond anything I had imagined. Within just five years, MOVE grew from a single dance space into a national movement, empowering thousands across the Kingdom and beyond to embrace sports and movement.

30+ peaks

When I wasn’t managing the studio or coaching women, I immersed myself in extreme sports—long-distance running and high-altitude mountaineering. In just a decade, I climbed over 30 major peaks (view table below), achieving multiple records for the Arab world in the process. These climbs were never just personal achievements; they were statements—proof that Arab women belong in extreme sports, and that the outdoors is for everyone.

today

Today, my work revolves around adventure sports and community-driven experiences. I climb professionally, lead community adventure trips, and deliver keynote talks worldwide on sports, physical health, and mental resilience.

Based between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, I strive to continue pushing boundaries—not just for myself and the community, but for a greater movement that redefines what’s possible.