Most people move to Dubai to build a career. Shradha Gupta did that too, but she also carried an old dream. On 27 May 2026, she stood on top of Mount Everest at 8,849 metres. Her path there began with a painful accident, not a grand plan.
A Painful Accident Changed the Life of Shradha Gupta
Shradha Gupta moved to the UAE in 2017 and rose steadily in the financial sector. She now heads the corporate business of DBS Bank in the Middle East. Three years later, in 2020, an accident at home changed everything. She suffered a serious head injury that took nearly 18 months to heal. For nearly a year and a half, life moved slowly. During those long months, she had time to think. She remembered how much she loved the mountains as a child. Work and busy routines had slowly pushed that love aside. So the accident became a chance to restart. She later shared this thought with Khaleej Times. At that point, she could not know where that reflection would lead.
From Weekend UAE Hikes to Peaks on Four Continents
After she recovered, she began hiking in the UAE in 2022. Wadi Shawka was her first trail. Soon, weekend hikes became a habit. Meanwhile, the mountains she chose kept getting bigger. Unlike many climbers, she did not start young. She entered the sport only after the pandemic. Reports described her as a late starter who climbed fast. Her first major climb was Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, a childhood dream. Then, in 2023, she trekked to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. At Kalapatthar, she looked straight at Everest and made a decision. She would climb it one day. She later said the goal felt huge, yet she approached it one step at a time.
Over the next two years, the peaks grew tougher. She summited Mount Elbrus in Europe and then Aconcagua in South America. On 26 September 2025, she reached the top of Manaslu. At 8,163 metres, it was her first peak above 8,000 metres. Her guide on that climb was Tenji Sherpa. Each expedition taught her something new. She learned to handle snow and ice, adapt to extreme altitude, and endure long days. Step by step, these climbs prepared her for Everest.
Daily Training Beside a Full-Time Job Needed Real Sacrifice
Everest does not reward luck. It rewards preparation. So she trained for two to three hours almost every day. She did this while working a demanding full-time job. Balancing office hours and mountain goals demanded discipline. Dubai is famous for skyscrapers, not summits. Still, she found ways to build her strength there. She hiked UAE trails for hours at a time.
Her approach was simple: use whatever the city offered. Her routine mixed hiking, gym sessions, swimming and stair machines. She even wore mountaineering boots on the slopes of Ski Dubai. For Shradha Gupta, the UAE became a surprisingly good training ground. Sacrifices followed, of course. Early mornings and evenings belonged to fitness. Meals needed careful planning. As a result, social plans often took a back seat.
A Ten-Hour Night Climb Where Every Step Mattered
The real test came in spring 2026. Everest stands on the border of Nepal and Tibet. For climbers worldwide, it is the ultimate goal. She spent nearly six weeks on the mountain, moving between camps in harsh conditions. Her final summit push lasted more than ten hours through the night. By then, she was cold, tired and low on energy. However, she kept one clear thought in mind. Her mantra was simple: “Your only job is to take the next step.” Then she took another step, and another.
The mountain also showed its harsh side. On the slopes, she passed three bodies. That sight reminded her how dangerous Everest can be. She felt she was attempting something the human body was never made to do. Despite this, she pressed on. At last, the long night gave way to daylight and the summit came into view. On 27 May, Shradha Gupta stood at 8,849 metres and unfurled the flag. Her first feeling was happiness. Relief came next. Few moments in sport match standing on the highest point on Earth. She stayed about 30 minutes before starting the descent. Then she called her parents, who had followed her climb anxiously. Their joy came with worry. A safe return mattered most to them.
The Wise Take
The story of Shradha Gupta carries a lesson far beyond mountaineering. Many people delay their dreams because they feel too busy, too old or too late. She did not wait for a perfect moment. Instead, she began with a simple hike in the UAE. Then she kept taking the next step. Talent alone did not carry her to the top. Steady effort did. Her journey teaches three clear lessons. First, a painful setback can open an unexpected door. Second, big goals grow out of small, daily habits. Third, support matters, because her parents waited anxiously for her safe return. Moreover, she says the summit was never a solo achievement.
Her rise also looks remarkable on paper. India CSR noted that she went from casual hiking to Everest in just three years. Now she hopes to complete the remaining Seven Summits peaks. So, what is your own next step? Maybe it feels small. Maybe it feels shaky. However, it only needs to happen. If you keep moving, the summit stops feeling so far away.
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