?Egypt’s first climbing gym is venturing into new territory: Nearly six years after opening its doors in Sheikh Zayed, Ascent Egypt, the country’s first active indoor climbing gym, has launched its second location in Maadi. The new branch adds roughly 55 new routes to Egypt’s growing indoor climbing repertoire, alongside a fully functioning yoga studio and cafe. The opening marks yet another milestone in the sport's transition from a niche hobby to a more mainstream athletic pursuit.

A Covid project turned subcultural phenomenon: The brainchild of YoussefShoukry, OmarSafar, and SherifHafez, Ascent Egypt was born during the throes of the pandemic in 2020. Drawing from Shoukry and Safar’s personal passion for the sport and a shared desire for a career shift, the idea for a dedicated indoor facility took shape. Hafez, a seasoned climber with years of experience, joined the duo shortly after as a strategic partner to help scale the vision.

Bootstrapped from the start: With no outside investors, Ascent was built entirely with a combination of personal savings, loans, and favors. One of the partners even sold his car to help finance the first branch, and briefly considered doing so a second time to fund the Maadi expansion. “We considered bringing on an outside investor at some point, but that meant it would probably be someone without a background in climbing,” Safar told us. Maintaining authenticity was a priority, even if it meant taking a more stressful financial route.

Bringing suburbia to the city: While the Zayed branch might be seen as the brand’s expansive flagship with 68 unique climbing routes, an outdoor wall, and a large cafe, the Maadi location is designed to bring the sport closer to the city’s heart. The founders explain that the move is about bringing Ascent out of suburbia and into the city, making it accessible to those who find the Zayed location hard to reach.

Athletic performance and new horizons: The Maadi space is slightly more compact than its predecessor. You won't find the sprawling outdoor seating or large changing rooms of the Zayed branch. Instead, the emphasis is more on technical progression and urban accessibility. “We included more modern wall angles that contribute to better training and a more refined climbing experience,” Safar says. The goal is to help the sport grow from an athletic perspective, supported by a dedicated yoga studio to help climbers with the flexibility and mobility the sport demands.

Beyond the walls, Ascent functions as a hub for a growing community of highly enthusiastic climbers. They regularly organize outdoor climbing trips to Egypt's wadis, host local competitions, and hold community events in their space. For those new to the sport, they also offer introductory sessions to teach the basics of movement and safety for practically all ages.

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