Speaking

Omar is an internationally renowned speaker who draws on his own experiences at the edge of human endurance - from climbing Everest to rowing the Atlantic - and weaves them into hard-won lessons on risk, resilience, and building a life and business on his own terms.

400+

Talks Delivered

10+

Countries

5

Continents

Closing speaker at TEDxBend, TEDxCairo, TEDxAbuDhabiU

Keynote speaker at Misk Global Forum and Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival

THE LONG WAY UP

Resilience • Growth Mindset • Leading Through Uncertainty

THE STORY

Diagnosed with severe asthma as a child and warned to avoid exertion, Omar became the first Egyptian to summit Everest — then kept climbing, topping the highest peak on every continent and skiing to both Poles. In 2026, emergency brain surgery put a lifetime of resilience to its hardest test yet. This signature keynote traces that journey and answers the question every organization eventually faces: how do you prepare for what you can’t predict?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Resilience is built ahead of the crisis

  • Sound judgment under pressure

  • Hope as a daily practice, not a feeling

01

THE ART OF LETTING GO

Authentic Leadership • Wellbeing • Connection

THE STORY

In 2013, Omar completed the Seven Summits, standing on top of the world. That same year, his wife Marwa passed away days after the birth of their daughter. This unusually honest keynote explores life after loss, fatherhood, and the slow work of rebuilding — and answers a question every workplace quietly carries: how do we rise after we’ve been defeated?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Vulnerability builds more trust than success stories

  • People don’t leave their lives at the door

  • Rebuilding is a process, not a moment

02

THIRTEEN HOURS

Teamwork • Trust • Crisis Leadership

THE STORY

In 2017, Omar and his rowing partner set out to cross the Atlantic unsupported. Nine days in, their boat capsized in eight-meter waves and gale-force winds — their life raft failed to open. Their thirteen-hour fight for survival became the acclaimed documentary Beyond the Raging Sea. This keynote takes audiences inside the decisions that kept two people alive, and the question every high-performing team must answer: what holds you together when all plans fall apart?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Trust is built in preparation, revealed in crisis

  • Clear roles and communication under pressure

  • The plan failing is not the team failing

03

LEAVING BASE CAMP

Entrepreneurship • Purpose • Innovation

THE STORY

In 2009, in the middle of the financial crisis, Omar left investment banking to build an adventure travel company in a region with no market for one. Wild Guanabana went on to shape tourism across the region, becoming the Middle East’s first carbon-neutral travel company. This is a keynote on taking the leap and on the question every founder and intrapreneur faces: how do you bet on yourself without gambling everything?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • De-risk the bold move: know what to protect, what to bet

  • Values are a commercial advantage

  • Know your seat: visionary or operator

04

Speaking Reel / Highlights

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Testimonials

  • "Omar is a master communicator, an excellent listener, and creative and caring human being. It’s been an honor to work with him, as his projects and of the highest professional and social caliber. If you ever get the chance to work with him, you’ll find the same. I highly recommend him for all of his skills, his passion, his professionalism, and his overall positive attitude."

    Dr. Tara Ruttley,
    Chief Scientist, Blue Origin

  • "Omar gave our audience an extremely inspiring talk about his amazing experiences and the lessons that he learned on his life journey. The attendees were engaged by stories of his adventures and his advice on reaching goals and overcoming adversity. We’re so happy that Omar was part of our platform and we look forward to having him back in the future."

    Rasha Abu Ghazaleh,
    Founder, The Speaker Sessions

  • "Omar is a very passionate and influential speaker, and his ability to connect with the audience is remarkable. His speech was inspirational and enriching. Everyone present said that they thoroughly enjoyed and valued it. The session was indeed an encouragement and helped us clearly convey the message that we wanted through our workshop."

    Fareeda Abdullah,
    VP of HR, Majid Al Futtaim Ventures

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