Raha Moharrak, a 25-year-old Saudi woman, has made history by becoming the youngest Arab to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain Everest.

She was part of a four-person expedition that also included the first Qatari man and the first Palestinian man attempting to reach the summit, a BBC report said.

The "Arabs with Altitude" group comprises Mohammed Al Thani, a member of Qatar's royal family, Raed Zidan, a Palestinian real-estate businessman and Masoud Mohammad, an Iranian living in Dubai who owns an ice-cream franchise.

Raha not only became the first Saudi woman to attempt the climb but is also the youngest Arab to make it to the top of Everest, said the BBC report.

They are trying to raise $1 million for education projects in Nepal.

Originally from Jeddah, Raha went to a university in Sharjah and is currently based in Dubai.

Her past ascents include: Kilimanjaro, Mount Vinson, Mount Elbrus, Aconcagua, Kala Pattar, Pico de Orizaba, and Iztaccihuatl.

Coming from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, she had to break a lot of barriers to achieve her goal, her climb team said.

A biography on the expedition website said convincing Raha's family to agree to her climb "was as great a challenge as the mountain itself", though they fully support her now.

"I really don't care about being the first," she is quoted as saying, "so long as it inspires someone else to be second."

Mountaineering officials said that 64 climbers have successfully scaled Mount Everest from Nepal's side of the mountain.

Tilak Pandey of Nepal's Mountaineering Department said 35 foreigners accompanied by 29 Nepalese Sherpa guides reached the 8,850-metre peak yesterday morning after climbing all night from the highest camp on South Col.

All were reported to be safe.

More than 3,000 people have successfully scaled Everest, but the mountain claims lives regularly, with even the best climbers falling victim to its fickle weather.

An 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer began his ascent of Mount Everest on Thursday, his website said, in a bid to become the oldest man to reach the roof of the world.

Everest can be climbed from either Nepal or Tibet.

May is the most popular month for Everest climbs because of more favourable weather.-TradeArabia News Service