Risking encounters with polar bears and battling snowstorms at minus 35°C in the Arctic wilderness, Emirati Abdulla Alahbabi skied 265km from east to west Greenland, pulling a 100kg sledge.
It was in those sub-zero temperatures, on one of the world's last uninhabitable frontiers, that Mr Alahbabi cemented his place in history.
The 33-year-old has become the first Emirati to complete the “polar hat-trick” – skiing unsupported to the North Pole, South Pole and across Greenland. Mr Alahbabi completed the North Pole feat in 2018, the South Pole mission in 2019, and crossed Greenland in March 2025.
“I've had this dream to complete the polar hat-trick,” he told The National. “It is the most difficult trio of polar expeditions on the planet.”
Dream postponed
In 2018 and 2019, Mr Alahbabi became the youngest Arab to reach the poles, but his plans to finish the hat-trick were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is home to the Earth's second-largest ice sheet. Its terrain comprises crevasses, mountains and vast plains of ice. Unlike his previous expeditions, Mr Alahbabi had to contend not only with the cold, but also elevation increases of up to 1,500 metres.
This, he said, was the most challenging element of the trip. The South Pole is at a higher altitude but on flatter terrain. In Greenland, the challenge was dealing with mountains. “We had to take off our skis on steep climbs and switch to traction gear,” he told The National. “It was the most physically demanding of the three, no question.”
Typical day on the ice
Each day of the expedition began at around 5am. Inside Mr Alahbabi's tent, his clothes were stored in his sleeping bag to prevent them from freezing overnight. Breakfast was frozen or dehydrated food rehydrated with boiling water, as well as oatmeal and hot coffee.
Then came hours of skiing: 90-minute pushes followed by 10-minute breaks with a high-calorie snack such as a chocolate bar. This schedule was repeated until about 6pm.
“You are skiing for 12 to 14 hours a day. It's a long time to be alone with your thoughts,” he said. “What helped me was listening to audiobooks or podcasts until the batteries ran out.”
At night, the teammates pitched tents and reviewed the next day's route. Though Mr Alahbabi was accompanied by two American teammates, the mental and physical challenge remained personal. “At that level, in the depths of the Arctic, it's just you against you,” he said. “You really learn what you are made of.”
In isolation, surrounded by wild and untouched landscapes, Mr Alahbabi said he experienced a sense of meditation. “It was really peaceful. I was contemplating a lot, because life today is just very noisy.”
Message for young Emiratis
The mission was, however, about more than personal achievement. “I wanted to show that Emiratis coming from the desert, from a hot climate, can do this,” he said. “We can take on challenges that even seasoned explorers hesitate to attempt.”
He hopes his journey inspires a new generation of Emirati adventurers to push their boundaries. “Impossible is just a mindset. With the right preparation and belief, you can do anything.”
His ambition, he said, was also to put the UAE on the global map for polar exploration. “Not many nations from our region are taking on these kinds of challenges.”
Close-up on the climate crisis
Having skied across three climate-vulnerable environments, Mr Alahbabi says his awareness of the climate crisis has deepened.
He describes the polar landscapes as treasures that must be protected. “These expeditions reminded me how beautiful our planet is, and how important it is to fight for it.”
Adventures on the horizon
Mr Alahbabi is now taking time to rest and enjoy the UAE's warmer climate. “I haven't planned my next expedition yet. This one took a lot out of me physically,” he said. “But I know I will be back out there.
“I want to inspire the next generation. Going to one of the last frontiers on the planet makes you see how little time we have on Earth. It is vital for each individual to get out of their comfort zone and to continue pushing themselves further and further.”
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Gothia Cup 2025
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26 UAE teams
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The five pillars of Islam
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
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