Sheikha Asma Al Thani Moves Closer to Completing the 8,000-Metre Peaks

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published August 9, 2026

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Qatari mountaineer Sheikha Asma bint Thani Al Thani reached the summit of Gasherbrum II on Sunday, August 9, 2026, bringing her total to 11 of the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 metres, according to the Qatar Olympic Committee.

Gasherbrum II is located in the Karakoram range on the Pakistan-China border. The achievement leaves Sheikha Asma three summits short of completing all 14 of the world’s mountains that rise above 8,000 metres.

The Qatar Olympic Committee praised the achievement and noted the extreme conditions associated with these high-altitude peaks, which extend into the so-called “death zone,” where oxygen levels drop sharply and climbing risks increase significantly.

Sheikha Asma became the first Qatari woman to summit Mount Everest in May 2022 and has continued to build a record in mountaineering and exploration. Since 2024, she has also served as Director of Marketing and International Cooperation at the Qatar Olympic Committee, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed’s coverage of her latest achievement.