Mariam Hamidaddin
On April 15, 11 women from the region and Europe left the remote Artic archipelago of Svalbard and set out on the 2018 Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition. According to Saudi Gazette, they have finally arrived after eight days traveling over 80 kilometers on the moving pack ice of the Arctic Ocean, facing freezing temperatures, open patches of water in the sea ice, and the constant threat of polar bears.
The Expedition team included four women from the region: Mariam Hamidaddin from Saudi Arabia, Anisa Al Raissi from Oman, Lamees Nijem from Kuwait, and Sheikha Asma Al-Thani from Qatar. The entire team was led by Felicity Aston MBE, an experienced polar guide. In 2012 Aston became the first person in the world to ski across Antarctica alone and without the aid of kites, machines, or dogs, embarking on a 1,744-kilometer journey that took her 59 days to complete.
Speaking about the expedition, Aston said, “The team have endured the extreme environment and restricted living spaces with great humor and tremendous sense of adventure. They have held on tightly to their reasons for making this trip and each team member has been critical to the success of the expedition […] We want to send a strong and positive message about gender equality and the need for greater cultural understanding when tackling large problems.”
Hamidaddin has now become the first Saudi Arabian woman to ski the last degree to the geographic North Pole. The Jeddah-native joined the team earlier this year and set off to spend 10 days skiing in the shifting ice and treacherous snow towards the North Pole. In fact, this journey has been a first for many of the women on the team.
“I applied for this expedition because it is a challenge and an opportunity. An adventure with a diverse group of women which is focused on community, personal growth and empowers people,” explained Hamidaddin.
The expedition team spent two years preparing for their adventure, including training expeditions in Iceland and Oman.
