On Eid Al Etihad, the UAE is traditionally adorned with red, white, green, and black, as well as images of the country’s founders. This year, however, the celebration reached new heights in the French Alps.
A UAE skiing team embarked on the ‘From Desert Dunes to Snowy Peaks’ journey, displaying images of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, along with the UAE flag, despite temperatures from -3 to -9 degrees Celsius.
The team, consisting of the UAE’s top 10 skiers from the UAE Skiers Academy, traveled from Dubai to Geneva and then to the Valtrans resort in the French Alps.
Stay informed with the latest updates. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Their rigorous training prepared them for the summit, where they proudly raised the UAE flag and a large portrait of Zayed and Rashid at over 3,300 meters, enduring the harsh winter weather.
The expedition included a father and his sons, aligning with the UAE’s 2026 theme, ‘Year of the Family’.
At the summit, they sang the national anthem, filled with pride and emotion, and captured the historic moment in photos.
The team underwent extensive training to face the challenging terrain and weather at high altitudes.
Launched 14 years ago, the UAE Skiers Academy’s ‘Our Flag at the Summit’ initiative aims to inspire patriotism and ambition by raising the UAE flag on global mountain peaks.
This initiative has seen the UAE flag atop some of the world’s most iconic mountains, motivating young Emiratis to pursue athletic and humanitarian activities that embody the nation’s values and pioneering spirit.
This marks the first time the initiative partners with a government entity.
