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On the summit of Everest 11 years ago today!

A post shared by Omar Samra – عمر سمره | 🏔🌊🚀 (@omarsamra) on May 17, 2018 at 6:24am PDT

In 2002, Omar quit his job in the investment sector and embarked on a 370 days non-stop journey across 14 countries in Asia and Latin America.

Wow.

Having been interested in climbing mountains since he first trekked one when he was 16 while in a summer camp in Switzerland, a lot of his 2002 trip was dedicated to climbing more mountains.

After a few more years of trekking and climbing expeditions to prepare for this moment, Omar decided to take on the biggest mountain of them all.

Mount Everest.

In 2007, along with a team of climbers Omar had traveled with before, they attempted to climb Everest from the South side in Kathmandu.

They succeeded and Omar became the first Egyptian and youngest Arab to climb Mount Everest in 2007.

WATCH: Omar Samra’s short video on his journey to becoming the first Egyptian to climb Mount Everest

This achievement really put Omar on the map in the Arab world. And since then he’s continued to challenge himself and inspire others with his achievements.

And his achievements are plenty.

Since 2008 Omar has climbed Kilimanjaro five times.

He and a director also filmed an expedition that took three Egyptians from ‘Sand To Snow’ on the summit of Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe.

In 2009, he climbed Carstenz Pyramid, the highest mountain in Australasia.

In 2011 he became the first Arab to climb Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America, solo. He then climbed the highest mountain in Antarctica and in 2013 he headed to Alaska in 2012 to climb Denali mountain which he succeeded in doing.

All of this made him the first Egyptian to climb the seven summits, the highest mountain on every continent. This was also the world’s first carbon neutral expedition.

In 2014, he was the first Egyptian to ski to the Geographic South Pole and in 2015he became the first Egyptian to reach the Geographic North Pole, Making him the first Egyptian and one 40 people in history ever to complete the Explorers Grand Slam.

 

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I took part in a panel at the @elgounafilmfestivalofficial to discuss the topic of refugees in film. The discussion was everything a panel should be, passionate, heated and often polarized. The audience shared a lot and asked questions. Most of us walked away with interesting food for thought and perhaps a sense of how we can all play some small role in what is the biggest crisis facing the world today. @o.n.tri And myself also got an opportunity to talk about our upcoming documentary #beyondtheragingsea which is planned to premiere early next year. 📷 credit: @elfaslaonline @cairoscene

A post shared by Omar Samra – عمر سمره | 🏔🌊🚀 (@omarsamra) on Sep 27, 2018 at 12:53am PDT

OK, is there anything he can’t do? Great question.

Omar has also used his experiences and passion for mountain climbing to inspire others.

He’s given over 70 talks in four countries to over 12,000 people in schools, universities, companies and NGOs and has done two Ted Talks – TEDxCairo and TEDxAbuDhabiU.

In 2009, Omar started his own company Wild Guanabana which creates unique Adventure Travel experiences for people around the world. Wild Guanabana is also the first carbon neutral travel company in the Middle East & North Africa and as a result has received a number of international awards including the Global Tourism Award at the London Travel Market.

In honor of the postitive attention Omar has given to the country in the Middle East region through all his work, he was honored by the Embassy of Nepal as the first Egyptian to climb Mount Everest in Nepal where they named him their 2020 Goodwill Ambassador of Nepal.

‘I thought I was going to visit Nepal once and then I was going to move on to visit any other countries, not knowing I would come back so many times, 17 times,’ Omar said at a special ceremony which was held at Hotel Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah.

‘This country that I came to visit for the first time became like a home to me.’

WATCH: Omar Samra’s Ted Talk where he poses some important questions