International Mountain Safety Symposium Held in Nepal with Global Participation

The Mountain Safety Symposium for Adventure Tourism was held in Nepal over three days, bringing together experts and specialists from 45 countries. The event was organised by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) in cooperation with the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).

The sessions addressed mountain activity and equipment safety, high-altitude medicine, rescue operations, field first aid, sustainability, the future of mountaineering, emerging technologies and insurance coverage.

Haitham Abdulkarim, Head of Training and Development at the Fujairah Adventure Centre, said the centre's participation aimed to enhance professional expertise, improve training standards and strengthen its international presence.

He explained that the participation covered scientific and practical aspects through the Mountain Safety Symposium, technical matters through the Safety and Training Commissions, and institutional engagement through the UIAA General Assembly.

Abdulkarim emphasised the importance of applying international expertise to develop the centre's programmes, train instructors and guides, and establish sustainable professional partnerships.

The programme also addressed institutional decisions and elections, a climate change summit, the 2027–2030 ice climbing strategy, and the UIAA's 2025 annual report.

Learning from Nepal's Experience

Abdulkarim highlighted the value of Nepal's expertise in planning, training and field operations, while stressing the need to adapt international practices to Fujairah's terrain, climate and adventure activities.

Potential areas of improvement include trail assessment and difficulty grading, participant requirements, equipment inspection, group communication, emergency and evacuation planning, and incident-response training.

He also emphasised protecting mountain trails, minimising environmental impacts and managing visitor activities responsibly.

"Our goal is to strengthen teams' capabilities in prevention, planning and response, while delivering experiences that combine the spirit of adventure with responsible risk management," he said.

Moroccan mountaineer Bouchra Baibanou also participated in a session addressing gender equality and social inclusion in mountaineering.

Abdulkarim concluded by highlighting the importance of international and Arab knowledge exchange, encouraging youth and women's participation, and strengthening professional cooperation in mountain safety, training and adventure tourism.