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Sat, Dec 13, 2025 | Jumada al-Thani 23, 1447 | Fajr 05:33 | DXB 
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UAE team hoists portraits of founding leaders, flag on French Alps braving -3ºC weather
The team, comprising of UAE's 10 most skilled skiers, travelled from Dubai to Geneva before the onward journey to the Valtrans resort in the French Alps
Buildings, monuments, cars — one must think they have seen it all on Eid Al Etihad, a time when the country is adorned by a sea of red, white, green and black along with the faces of the nation's founders. But this year, the UAE has taken it up a notch, quite literally, by reaching the French Alps.
A team of UAE skiers mounted the magnificent range under the initiative 'From Desert Dunes to Snowy Peaks’, where they hoisted images of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, along with the UAE's flag amid temperatures ranging between -3 and -9 degrees Celsius.
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The team, comprising of UAE's 10 most skilled skiers from the UAE Skiers Academy, travelled from Dubai to Geneva before the onward journey to the Valtrans resort in the French Alps.
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They received intensive training in preparation for the summit ascent, which culminated with the raising of the UAE flag and a 3x1-metre portrait of Zayed and Rashid on the peak standing over 3,300 metres above sea level, braving winter weather.
The group also included a father and his sons, coinciding with the UAE's theme for 2026 'Year of the Family'.
Upon reaching the summit, the national anthem was sung amidst an atmosphere surcharged by pride and emotion, after which the summiteers captured photos documenting the historic moment.
The expedition team underwent a comprehensive training programme that equipped every member to handle the challenging terrain and the weather at higher altitudes.
The UAE Skiers Academy launched its ‘Our Flag at the Summit’ initiative 14 years ago, aiming to foster a spirit of patriotism and ambition among young people by raising the nation's flag on mountain peaks around the world.
Since its inception, the initiative has seen the UAE flag planted on the summits of some of the world’s most prominent mountains, inspiring countless young Emiratis to undertake sporting and humanitarian efforts that reflect the nation’s values and pioneering spirit.
This was the first time that the initiative is partnering a government entity.
Laraib Anwer
Laraib Anwer is a Digital Journalist who loves the thrill of breaking headlines almost as much as she does unapologetically using GenZ slang. She dreams of a world free of animal cruelty and hopes to tell community stories that make a difference.
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