Captain Mishaal Al-Sudairy officially launched his book, ‘Flying Around the World Solo in 26 Days’, at Riyadh International Book Fair on 4th October 2025. The memoir captures his record-breaking journey as the first Saudi Arabian to fly solo around the world, offering readers a deeply personal account of courage, determination and global exploration.
The paperback chronicles Mishaal’s 26-day flight in a Diamond DA42 aircraft, during which he covered over 20,000 nautical miles and navigated diverse and challenging landscapes across multiple continents.
His extraordinary expedition began on 8th June 2024 when he departed Saudi Arabia, flying West to East through India, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, and over the Bering Sea to Alaska. He continued on to Wisconsin to fly in to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow – the most iconic aviation event in the world. The return leg saw him cross Canada and Greenland, continuing through Iceland, Northern Ireland, England, Austria, and onto Crete before returning to Riyadh.
Mishaal stopped at 30 airports en route, and allocated 3 days for the airshow and 3 for aircraft maintenance. His DA42 was fitted with an array of survival equipment, as well as a satellite phone and oxygen generator.
An adventurer, motorcycle enthusiast and member of the Saudi Aviation Club, Al-Sudairy began flying later in life aged 52, just 6 years before he undertook his round-the-world escapade. He hopes to use his story to inspire others – regardless of their age and years of flying under their belt – to pursure their aviation dreams. He is a lifetime member of EAA, Experimental Aircraft Association, a US non-profit outfit that is at the heart of grassroots aviation.
“It brings me great pleasure to share my story through this book, and hope it inspires people of all ages. There is no age too young or old to start flying. Aviation is a powerful hobby; it teaches discipline, builds strong habits and instills a lasting work ethic. It crosses generations and brings people together in a way that few other passions can,” said Captain Mishaal Al-Sudairy.
Published in paperback in Arabic, with an English edition due out by the year end, ‘Flying Around the World Solo in 26 Days’ is currently available through Kitabouna, with an extensive global distribution network in the pipeline.