An interesting Banksy quote that I came across a few days ago said, “The earth without art is just eh”. With a little tweaking, I’d say, “The earth without travel is just _____ [a big blank space]”.
Every once in a while, there comes someone that reminds us all that there is a wide world out there to be discovered and re-discovered. And over here in the Middle East, we have some inspiring figures, from early explorers and inventors to modern-day travelers, mountain climbers and media personalities.
So let’s have a look at a few outstanding examples:
Al-Muqaddasi
A geography lover and traveler born in the 10th century in Jerusalem, Al Muqaddassi spent more than 20 years of his life living out his passion, moving from one town and city to the other across the Muslim world, closely observing and documenting everything he saw.
The Outstanding Factor: His book Aḥsan al-taqasim fī maʿrifat al-aqalim (The Best Divisions in the Knowledge of the Regions) is a compilation of the journals he wrote during his travels. His accounts of the places he visited were so descriptive and highly detailed that today, 11 centuries later, the book is still used as a reference. Impressive is an understatement here.
Ibn Majid
“The master of the sea” perfectly describes this man. Ibn Majid, who was born in the 15th century in what is today one of the Emirates of the UAE, traveled extensively across the oceans.
As he did so, he kept numerous logs about various of aspects of navigation and different ports in Asia and Africa. His writings were widely used by other navigators and sailors.
The Outstanding Factor: In addition to his writings, Ibn Majid made improvements to several navigational instruments, the most famous of which is revolutionizing the performance of the compass by placing it inside a box.
Another story confirmed by some historians but challenged by others is the belief that Ibn Majid guided famous explorer Vasco De Gamma from Africa to India, in effect contributing to one of the most important sea routes at that time.
Ibn Batuta
Even those who are not big fans of history will know who he is. Ibn Batuta is by far the most famous Arab traveler. Born in Morocco in the 14th century, he left his hometown at the age of 21, starting a journey that lasted almost 30 years.
The Outstanding Factor: His travels across Africa, Asia and Southern Europe covered the equivalent of 44 countries in today’s world, an outstanding record compared to his fellow travelers at that time. His book Al Rihla can be considered one of the earliest travel logs in history, depicting the very interesting stories of his journeys.
Now let’s move on to some modern-day figures
Omar Samra
In 2007, Omar Samra became the first Egyptian and youngest Arab to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Before that, Samra pursued his passion for travel in a 370-day trip across 14 countries in Asia and Latin America.
His talks at different universities, NGOs and events inspire hundreds of people around the world. He also heads Wild Guanabana, the Middle East’s leading eco-friendly and ethical travel company that takes adventure-goers on non-conventional trips in exotic places.
The Outstanding Factor: A challenge hunter, Samra is constantly taking on one extraordinary pursuit after the other. Following his Mt. Everest achievement, he completed the 7 Summits expeditions, climbing the highest peaks across all seven continents. Currently, he is just days from finishing a 20-year endeavor to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam, something just a handful of people around the world have accomplished: the 7 Summits and traversing to the South and North Poles. And after that, he is preparing to become the first Egyptian to go to space. Good luck, Omar!
Ahmad Al Shugairi
Al Shugairi is a well-known Saudi Arabian TV show host with an active presence in the media since 2002. While travel may not be his main focus, he has cleverly turned his trips in different parts of the world into inspiring content for his famous TV series Khawater, running for 10 seasons so far.
He has also released several publications based on his shows, such as Khawater from Japan, featuring his insights from his trip there.
The Outstanding Factor: The interesting content of his shows greatly appeals to the younger generations. He has chosen to open up to the world, interact with different cultures and learn from different people with different backgrounds, and this is what greatly differentiates him from the rest.
Mohammad and Peyman Parham Al Awadhi
These two Emirati brothers are the hosts of travel series Peeta Planet on Dubai One, featuring 12 shows each season. Each episode tackles a different city around the world, and almost everything they do – from where to eat, what to see and what to do – is directed by fans and followers on social media, emphasising local experiences.
The Outstanding Factor: These adventurous brothers have pioneered the concept of “social travel”, something they’ve proudly originated in the UAE and are now transporting across the globe. They also aim to break down cultural stereotypes along the way, wearing the kandura in every city they set foot and focusing on travel as a bridge that connects people of all backgrounds.
Suzanne Al Houby
First, let’s all jump and throw our fists in the air for female travelers!
A mountaineer, Al Houby was the first Arab and Palestinian woman to climb Mt. Everest in 2011. She has continued her passion for travel and mountain climbing and so far has been to six out of the seven summits of the world’s continents.
The Outstanding Factor: With an aspiring entrepreneurial streak, Al Houby is the founder and CEO of adventure travel company Rahhalah, making it a mission to let people explore the world with her and her fellow “Rahhalas”.
WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss “15 Reasons Why Travelling Is the Best Therapy“