The Story of Nadia; World Traveler
She’s been to 100 destinations, and here’s her story:
“The world is truly beautiful—and it’s worth it.”
Nadia didn’t just happen to travel; it was in her blood. Growing up, her father worked at Saudi Airlines, so the family was constantly moving around the globe. But there were rules. Every trip, they’d head to the capital, and every capital, they’d visit the museum.
“My father taught me that to truly understand a country, you must visit its capital and its museums,” she explains. “That’s where you find its history, its culture, and the real soul of the place.”
She never stopped doing that.
London Changed Everything
In the ‘90s, Nadia moved to London to study economics, and for the first time, she was traveling on her own terms. She explored Europe, tried skiing, and went hiking in countries her family had never visited. It was during this time that travel became something personal—not just something the family did, but something she needed.
Journalism came after, and it took her even further. Iran, Pakistan, North Cyprus, and parts of the Gulf that most people weren’t even considering destinations.
“I had traveled to places that weren’t considered tourist destinations at the time,” she says. “But that was exactly what made them interesting.”
She Made a Plan
At some point, Nadia noticed a gap in her travels. She had covered certain regions deeply but barely touched others. So, she decided: three to four new countries every year, always in a part of the world she hadn’t seen yet. She gave herself to each new region fully—not passing through, but actually arriving.
Today, she’s visited 99 destinations across all seven continents, including Antarctica. She stood at the edge of the frozen water and jumped in.
“It was a childhood dream,” she says simply. “I was not going to leave without doing it.”
Her 100th destination came in January 2026.
What She Loves Most
When asked what she gets from travel, Nadia doesn’t mention scenery, food, or famous landmarks. She talks about people.
“The people are my absolute favorite part,” she shares. “I always make it a point to visit rural areas in every country I explore, especially to connect with the locals—especially the children. We chat, play, laugh, sing, and dance together.” These moments bring her the most joy, and she speaks of them with such warmth.
Back home, her shelves are adorned with mementos from all the countries she’s visited, each piece representing women from different cultures around the globe. She’s collected them quietly over the years, without making a big fuss. It’s her way of remembering the people, not just the places.
She Is Not Who You Would Expect
Nadia is upfront about this: she’s not exactly the easiest person to be around. She values doing things right and being punctual. She lives by her own set of rules.
“Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m not the easiest person to deal with,” she says. “I’ve always enjoyed my lifestyle, but I need to constantly challenge myself to do what I love.”
Travel is that challenge. It pushes her to step out of her comfort zone, handle tough situations, and adapt to challenging conditions. She’s been unwell while traveling and has navigated complex group dynamics in unfamiliar settings. Her response to all of it is preparation.
“My body is my most important asset,” she says. “Without it, I can’t enjoy traveling or care for the people I love.”
Yoga, swimming, and a healthy diet are her foundation for everything else.
Family First
There are two kinds of love that shape us. The kind that opens doors—and the kind that teaches us how to walk through them properly.
Nadia had both.
Her father was the warmth, the one who introduced her to the world, who gave her a boarding pass before she was old enough to understand its significance, who stood by her in museums, pointing out things and saying, “Remember this.” His love was gentle, expansive, and full of wonder. He was the reason she fell in love with the world in the first place.
When he passed away, the family was heartbroken. He wasn’t just a father; he was the heart of the home, the presence that made everything feel safe and possible. His absence left a silence that never fully went away. For Nadia, losing him was the kind of loss that quietly rewrites you. She carried it with her, into every country, every capital, every museum she walked through alone thinking of him.
Her mother was something else entirely. Strict in the way that only a truly devoted mother can be. She had standards for everything — how you sat, how you spoke, how you laughed, how you arrived. She did not raise children, she shaped them. And Nadia, whether she admits it or not, is very much her mother’s daughter.
After her father passed, her mother became the center of everything. The last remaining pillar. And so when the first signs of Alzheimer’s began to appear — a word that would not come, a familiar face that took a moment too long to place — Nadia felt it in a way that no journey had ever prepared her for. The strongest woman she knew was becoming someone who needed to be held.
She did not hesitate. She retired early, came home, and gave herself fully to the woman who had built her.
“I am grateful I recognized the signs of Alzheimer’s early,” she says quietly. “Family comes before everything else.”
Then she did what Nadia does — she planned. A long journey across multiple countries, her mother and siblings beside her, moving through the world together while they still could. A final gift, wrapped in the only language she has ever truly known.
It is the kind of love that does not announce itself. It just shows up, packs a bag, and goes.
When Nadia saw the first hints of Alzheimer’s in her mother, she didn’t hesitate. She planned a big trip across several countries—for her mother, her siblings, and herself—so the family could stay connected while exploring the world.
“I’m so thankful I caught the signs early,” she says. “Family is what matters most.”
It’s easy to say that, but it’s tough to actually do.
Still Going
Her 2026 plans include Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, and Belize. She talks about it as if it’s already set in stone, because it is for her.
She keeps her personal life private on social media, not acting like a typical traveler.
“I’m careful about what I share,” she says. “I want to be in control of my own story.”
What she’s really interested in is having real conversations with real people in real places, far from anything familiar.
One hundred countries. Seven continents. And she’s still going.
There’s no end in sight for her. Just the next country, the next capital, the next person she wants to meet.
