{
  "id": 19991848,
  "title": "How this Lebanese expat supports women and underprivileged children through adventures in UAE",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/how-this-lebanese-expat-supports-women-and-underprivileged-children",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T14:14:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/people/how-this-lebanese-expat-supports-women-and-underprivileged-children-through-adventures-in-uae-1.500747452"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tarek Zeidan, a Lebanese expat living in the UAE, finds adventure extends beyond climbing mountains and hiking trails. As an architect, mountaineer, survival expert and endurance athlete, he has dedicated over two decades to the UAE's outdoor sector. Currently leading Columbia Hike Society, he organizes adventures and events across the GCC and Middle East, fostering connections among people.\n\nBesides his professional pursuits, Zeidan has initiated humanitarian efforts, women's empowerment projects, and heritage preservation in Lebanon. Born in a small mountain village, nature has always been a part of his life, but the 2006 war in Lebanon compelled him to seek stability and opportunities in the UAE. The experience has taught him that success should be measured by the positive impact on others, not just personal achievements.\n\nZeidan's community initiatives, Yook and Mount Kneisseh Adventures, focus on empowering women and preserving local traditions in Lebanon. He believes maintaining a connection with one's roots is vital, even while building a life abroad. His humanitarian work extends to supporting underprivileged children and orphans through HappyNas Humanitarian Adventurer, and to humanitarian campaigns in Syria, Palestine, and other countries.\n\nThrough outdoor activities, Zeidan aims to make experiences accessible, promote healthier lifestyles, and introduce more people to nature. By leading hiking adventures, he brings people together, teaching valuable life skills like resilience, teamwork, and respect for the environment. He also works as a certified holistic coach specializing in sound healing and breathwork.\n\nZeidan encourages UAE residents to seek a meaningful life rather than solely focusing on professional success. He advises newcomers to embrace the country's diversity and build genuine relationships. His ultimate message is that the UAE has given many the opportunity to build dreams, and the best way to appreciate this is by helping others build theirs.",
  "summary": "Dubai: For Lebanese expat Tarek Zeidan, adventure is about more than climbing mountains or exploring hiking trails. It is also a way to bring people together, create opportunities, and make a difference in communities. An architect, mountaineer, survival expert, and endurance athlete, Zeidan has spent more than 20 years working in the UAE’s outdoor sector. He currently leads Columbia Hike Society…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}