9 Arabs who refused mediocrity and broke all the rules

In 2013, Moharrak became the first Saudi and the youngest Arab woman to climb Mount Everest. She was joined by Qatar's first man on Mount Everest, Mohammed Al Thani, and the first Palestinian, Raed Zidan. 

Moharrak had been mountain-climbing for only two years when she made it to the summit of the world's highest mountain.

"When I first decided to climb Everest, no one believed I could do it. But, I'm not the type that gives up easily," Moharrak said in a Lipton ad, adding that she is happy to be inspiring other women.

In 2017, Moharrak became the first Saudi female to climb the Seven Summits - the highest mountains in each of the seven continents.

As the first of only two Arabs to have ever traveled to outer space, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the epitome of a trailblazer.

At the mere age of 28, he became the first Arab or Muslim to visit outer space. The seven-day mission took off from the American Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 in 1985 in an operation to deploy a satellite for the Arab Satellite Communications Organisation.

He also became the first to ever "observe Islamic prayers and read the Quran in zero gravity."

Following his journey, Al Saud co-founded the Association of Space Explorers, served in the Royal Saudi Air Force, and held the rank of colonel. 

Born in 1979, Al Mansouri was the first female fighter pilot in the UAE. Al Mansouri, who flies an F-16 Fighting Falcon, led an airstrike in 2014 against Daesh.

She was the first woman to join the air-force in 2007 when the United Arab Emirates Air Force Academy first allowed women to enroll. 

She served in the army before starting her flight training and received the Mohammed bin Rashid Pride of the Emirates medal for excellence in her field. 

Nabil Al Busaidi was born in London and grew up to lead an active and adventurous life. From scaling Mount Everest and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean to walking to the North Pole, Al Busaidi has done it all.

In 2009, the record-breaking adventurer became the first Arab to ever walk to the magnetic North Pole. Describing the near-death experience to local blog Muscat Confidential, Al Busaidi admitted, "I thought I was going to die several times, but one time it actually seemed close to happening. Far too close." 

Academy Award-winning director David Ward also filmed a documentary depicting Al Busaidi's remarkable journey to the magnetic North Pole.

Apart from being the first Egyptian to climb the highest summits across all seven continents, Samra is an inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, and the founder of the adventure travel agency Wild Guanabana.

He is also the first Egyptian to finish the Grand Slam challenge, which comprises of climbing the highest summit on all seven continents as well as skiing the last degree to the geographic South and North Poles.

Having accomplished his dreams on Earth, he set his mind on excelling further beyond. In 2016, he earned a spot among 23 winners at a global competition offering a trip to space. He is thus set to board the California-based XCOR Aerospace Lynx spacecraft within the next two years and therefore become the first Egyptian to ever visit space.

The 39-year-old is all about defying stereotypes and following all her versatile passions. She is not only the first female race car driver in the region but also a fashion designer, motivational speaker, as well as a human rights campaigner. Plus, she speaks seven languages.

Al Tajir had given up a career in human resource management for the field of car rallies, going on to represent the UAE at international events and bring home several medals.

In 2013, she finished in fourth place in the Umm Al Quwain car rally and in eighth place out of 100 cars in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, a prestigious international cross-country race through the "treacherous" Empty Quarter.

UAE-based Al Houby made history in 2011 when she became the first Arab woman to climb Mount Everest during a 51-day journey. Additionally, she is the first to complete the Seven Summits challenge. 

"I would like to share this triumph with the Palestinian people and all Arabs - especially all the Arab women, young and old, who continue to contribute to the peace and stability of the region we all call home," she said at the time.

That's not all. She is also the founder and CEO of the adventure travel company Rahhalah.

Saudi Arabia has only sent female athletes to the Olympics Games twice, in 2012 and 2016. Attar competed both times, making her the kingdom's only female two-time Olympian.

Attar competed in the  800 meter race at the London 2012 Olympics when Saudi Arabia sent female athletes to the Olympics for the first time. 

Despite being attacked with demeaning insults on social media and receiving minimal financial and media support, Attar decided to compete again in Rio 2016. She thus became the first Saudi to participate in an Olympic marathon.

Born and raised in Bahrain, the 63-year-old businessman and artist refused to let Parkinson's disease hold him back but instead used it as a motivation to live life to the fullest.

After being diagnosed with the disease in 2011, Jaffar began traveling the world and seeking adventure. 

He has ventured through Mongolia and the South Pole, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, tackled the extreme temperatures of Iceland, and gone skydiving in the United States.

"I've always wanted to fly between the planets, and God gave me the chance to do it," he told Perle magazine. "Traveling made me realize I can regain control of my life," he added.