The name Raha Moharakk will remain etched in the pages of history forever. By climbing Mount Everest at the age of 27, she has become a legend.
According to Tilak Pandey, a Nepal Mountaineering department official, Raha, a university graduate reached the world's highest peak at around 8:00 am on Saturday.
She became the first woman in Saudi Arabia to achieve the feat. Following her achievement, a number of congratulatory messages popped up on Twitter.
Twitter user Ian Daniells posted, "Congrats to 25 yo Raha Moharrak on being the first Saudi Woman to reach the summit of Everest. Another small step for Saudi Women."
A group called 'Arabs With Attitude' tweeted, "The first ever Saudi woman to attempt Everest has reached the top!! Bravo Raha Moharrakk. We salute you."
Raha Moharaak reached the summit along with a group of 64 mountaineers from Nepal's side of Everest on Saturday.
Raha hails from the Saudi city of Jeddah and is a graduate from the University of Sharjah in United Arab Emirates. She had left her home on 3 April to undergo meticulous training before the attempt.
A woman in love with heights, Raha had earlier climbed mountains in Europe, Tanzania, South Pole and Argentina, and her latest feat fulfilled her ambition of climbing the seven highest peaks in the world according to her family.
According to Nepal's mountaineering department, 35 foreigners along with 29 Nepalese Sherpa climbed Everest. The group included the first Qatari man and the first Palestinian man attempting to scale the mountain. The group is reported to have reached the 29, 035 feet (8,850-metre) peak on Saturday after an all-night climb from South Col, the final camp on Everest. With its favourable and mild weather, May is the most popular month for Everest climbs.
In a country where women's freedom is very limited, Raha's accomplishment is praiseworthy. The recent times have seen the government relaxing its Sharia rules on women. The last London Olympics had seen women athletes from the country competing in the games. This month, the country allowed girls in private schools to play sports, but in adherace to the law.
