Photo Album: Arab Woman Quits Job to Travel World

How many people can say they've been tempted to "give it all up" and go globetrotting? *Raises hand*.

While, the idea isn't as simple as it sounds for those who still need to make a living, one woman ignored the haters and did it anyway.

Omniya Fareed Shafik, 26, originally from Egypt, says some people thought she should stay in her stable finance role but three years later, she's having the best time exploring the planet as a single girl.

Speaking to Business Insider, she shared "People are going to talk and judge and have stuff to say. Life is short - live your life the way you want." But it looks like she's a having a ball checking out different areas of the globe and sharing it with her Instagram followers.

Omniya was based in Abu Dhabi and has found her happy by living outside of her comfort zone; that includes everything from camping in the Moroccan desert to figuring out how the culture works in Seoul. Next on her travel itinerary is Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, and her dream destination is Peru. While she's met many Arab males along the way in the last few years, she's yet to form a girl squad from the region. However it's not stopping her from going where her heart is leading her and for now she has no idea when she's stop traveling.

Omniya has some advice for people who want to follow in her footsteps and work while on the road: "It needs balance. I wake up in the morning finish my work or then head to explore the city. It can get exhausting sometimes but it needs balance. I also give myself two days off."
She added to POPSUGAR Middle East that it's often not what's in front of the camera that holds the most interesting story. Omniya added about her various photographers: "These are people who I met during my trips. Meeting people is one of the best things when you travel. I just met a woman two days ago who is traveling around the world to explore religious sites only because she believes in energy, chakras, etc."

If you think you're feeling inspired now, check out her Instagram page for some serious wanderlust.

Update: Some facts were changed in this article after speaking Omniya.