Nelly Attar Keynote Speaker

First Lebanese to scale the world's five highest peaks (Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu)
Climbed over 40 peaks globally - first Arab woman on Eiger, first Lebanese woman on Matterhorn, first Lebanese woman on Ama Dablam
Guinness World Record for the Most 4 finger pull ups in 1 minute

Nelly Attar's Biography

Nelly Attar is a recognized fitness ambassador, leader in sports, and healthy living advocate contributing significantly to the transformation of the sports landscape across the Middle East.

Nelly started off her career as a psychologist and life coach. Four years later, she shifted careers to follow her passion in fitness and physical activity. In 2017, Nelly launched Saudi Arabia’s first dance studio, MOVE, and in the process has enabled thousands to participate in sports across the region.

On the 22nd of July 2022, Nelly Attar became the first Arab woman to scale the world’s second highest peak – K2 (8611m above sea level), which made international headlines. As of 2025, Nelly is also the first Lebanese to scale the world’s five highest peaks: Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu. She also became the first Arab woman to summit Makalu (8485m above sea level), the world’s fifth highest peak.

Only 4 weeks after scaling the most difficult and treacherous peak in the world, Nelly scaled the Matterhorn (4478m above sea level), “The King of Mountains” located in the Swiss Alps. To date, she has climbed over 40 peaks globally, including becoming the first Arab woman to summit the Eiger, the first Lebanese woman to summit the Matterhorn, and the first Lebanese woman to summit Ama Dablam.

She has completed six major marathons and one ultramarathon including NYC Marathon, Berlin Marathon and Paris Marathon.

Nelly became the first Nike trainer and Ambassador in Saudi Arabia and in 2016, she led the first official female run in the Kingdom, in partnership with GSA.

In 2024, Nelly earned a Guinness World Record for the most four-finger pull-ups in one minute (Calisthenics).

Nelly has been named as “One of Top Influential Muslim Women in Sports” (2020) by The Muslim Women Network, and the “Female Fitness Influencer of the Year across the GCC” (2019) by Sports 360. She was also nominated for the “Sporting Event of the Year” Award by Laureus World Sports Awards.

From the Top of the World to Rock Bottom, and Back.

My life lessons through MOVE, Everest and grief.

A Journey Through MOVE and Climbing Everest

This relates to women empowerment and trailblazing in the MENA region.

Mountaineer's Outward Mindset

Plug-in program for a leadership training program. We cover the importance of an outward mindset for leadership and survival on climbs.

Lessons from the Top of the World

This is mainly related to effective leadership and positive teamwork.

She brings rare, headline-making credibility as the first Arab woman to summit K2 in July 2022, inspiring audiences to pursue bold goals with discipline, courage and resilience.
She turned a personal passion into regional impact by founding MOVE in 2017 as Saudi Arabia’s first dance studio, showing organisations how to activate participation, community and behavioural change at scale.
She brings brand-level credibility and cultural influence as Nike’s first ambassador in Saudi Arabia, helping audiences understand how role models and platforms can accelerate inclusion in sport and wellbeing.
She connects mindset and performance through a background in psychology and coaching and a career pivot into sport, giving leaders practical tools for habit-building, confidence and sustained motivation.
She pairs endurance credentials with an accessible message on healthy living, drawing on major marathon and ultra finishes to help teams translate ambition into consistent action.