In an extraordinary display of national pride, a team of elite Emirati skiers has successfully scaled a formidable peak in the French Alps to plant the UAE flag and portraits of the nation’s founding fathers. The expedition, part of the long-running ‘Our Flag at the Summit’ initiative, saw ten highly-trained athletes from the UAE Skiers Academy conquer the 3,300-meter Valtrans resort summit under harsh winter conditions, with temperatures plunging to -9 degrees Celsius.
The team’s journey commenced in Dubai, progressing through Geneva before their final ascent in the Alps. This meticulously planned mission involved intensive preparatory training to navigate the challenging alpine terrain and extreme weather. Upon reaching the summit, the team unfurled a substantial 3×1-meter portrait featuring the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum alongside the national flag, creating a striking visual against the snowy backdrop.
The emotional peak of the expedition was marked by the team singing the UAE national anthem, a moment described as charged with pride and sentiment. The inclusion of a father and his sons in the team composition was a deliberate nod to the UAE’s designated ‘Year of the Family’ in 2026, adding a layer of familial significance to the national achievement.
Established fourteen years ago by the UAE Skiers Academy, the ‘Our Flag at the Summit’ program aims to cultivate patriotism and ambition among Emirati youth by planting the national standard on iconic global summits. This Alpine venture distinguishes itself as the first such expedition to be conducted in partnership with a government entity, signaling elevated institutional support for the initiative. Previous expeditions under this program have seen the UAE flag raised on some of the world’s most prestigious mountains, inspiring numerous young citizens to engage in sporting and humanitarian endeavors that reflect core national values.