Hattan Asali is an Ecotourism activist, a certified wilderness first responder from the National Outdoor Leadership School, a Leave No Trace Center master educator, and the deputy chairman at the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation (SCHF).

Since he was a boy, Asali has been a fan of the great outdoors, often going on adventures with his family. Later, this would encourage him to co-found the Qimmam Club community. “Through this community, we started to get people to share the experience and deal with others, taking people to Africa, Europe, and America.”

In 2018, Asali was asked to join the Saudi Climbing Federation as a board member. “The main objective behind it was to build and develop the climbing business industry in Saudi.” Adding, “I wanted to bring the fame of the Himalayas and Everest to Saudi. Something local and iconic, like other mountains abroad.”

When asked where the best climbing spots are in the country, he stated, “It depends on what you want to do. If you want to experience the historical era, you can go to AlUla and Khayma. For more challenging spots, you can seek Al Soudah and Asir.”

His tip for future climbers and trekkers is, “Before embarking on an adventure, make sure to plan it a month in advance. You need to prepare everything, including what to do in case of emergencies.”

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