Fahad Abdulrahman Badar
Fahad Abdulrahman Badar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979 Doha, Qatar |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, mountaineer |
| Known for | First Arab to complete double summit of Mount Everest and Lhotse within a single expedition; first Qatari man to summit K2 |
Fahad Abdulrahman Badar () (born 1979) is a Qatari banker and mountaineer. He holds the distinction of being the first Arab to complete a double summit of Mount Everest and Lhotse within a single expedition, as well as the first Qatari man to reach the peak of K2.
Early life
Fahad Badar was born in 1979 in Doha, Qatar. He advanced his education in the United Kingdom, obtaining a bachelor's degree in Banking and Finance from Bangor University and later earning an MBA from Durham University, concentrating on global finance and management. This academic foundation contributed to his determination and perseverance, which have been instrumental in his dual success in banking and high-altitude climbing.
Mountain climbing career
Starting in 2018, Badar managed to combine a challenging career in finance with intense mountaineering preparation, leading to several notable ascents:
- In May 2018, he successfully summited Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, and Aconcagua.
- On 23 May 2019, he became the first Arab climber to summit both Mount Everest (8,848 m) and Lhotse (8,516 m) within a 24-hour period during a single expedition.
- In August 2019, he ascended both Mont Blanc and Matterhorn.
- In January 2021, Badar reached the top of Ama Dablam (6,812 m), one of the technically demanding peaks in the Himalayas, alongside Omani mountaineer Nadhira Al Harthy, who made history as the first Arab woman to climb it.
- In July 2021, he climbed Pakistan’s Broad Peak, where he suffered severe frostbite that led to the amputation of four fingers.
- On 22 July 2022, Badar achieved the milestone of becoming the first Qatari man to summit K2, among the world’s most perilous mountains. The expedition also featured Saudi-Lebanese climber Nelly Attar, recognized as the first Arab woman to reach K2's summit, along with Emirati climber Saeed Al Memari, marking a significant advancement for Arab participation in extreme mountaineering.
These accomplishments emphasize Badar’s endurance and reflect the increasing visibility and success of Arab climbers in high-altitude mountaineering.