SAUDI YOUTH SETS OUT TO CONQUER MT. EVEREST

A 30-year-old Saudi national is ready to leave for Nepal to scale Mount Everest, a feat that will make him the first Saudi to attempt the mammoth climb. “My goal is to unfurl the Saudi flag on top of the world’s highest peak,” said Farouk Saad Hamad Al-Zoman. Al-Zoman has climbed four of the world’s highest peaks while studying at Oregon State University and is set to embark on scaling the 8,850-metre high mountain. Al-Zoman, a PR strategist for Attariq Communications, said he is prepared for the challenge of his life, which would also make him the second Arab to attempt the feat. Al-Zoman will be climbing with seven others – four from the United States and three from Canada, Oman and France. He explained, it would take around 70 days to reach the top. “I’ve been training hard in preparation,” he said. At the end of last year, 3,679 people had attempted to climb Everest; only 2,436 climbers had been successful. So far, 210 people have died trying to reach the summit. Nevertheless, Al-Zoman, the eldest of five brothers and sisters, is confident of fulfilling his cherished desire.