On Monday, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed visited the home of astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi in the Um Ghafah area of Al Ain city. Bin Zayed checked on Al-Neyadi's preparations for his upcoming six-month mission to the International Space Station, marking him as the first Arab astronaut to undertake this task. He stated that the UAE will continue to enhance its position in various sciences, especially modern sciences, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology, leveraging the efforts and capabilities of its citizens. He praised the determination of astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi and his pursuit of achievements for his country.
For his part, Al-Neyadi expressed his happiness and pride at the visit from the UAE President, appreciating his continuous personal follow-up on his preparations for the historic mission. He thanked the leadership for the trust placed in him to represent the nation, affirming his readiness to accomplish this long-duration mission, which is the first for Arab astronauts. Sultan Al-Neyadi was a backup astronaut for Hazzaa AlMansoori during the UAE's first scientific mission to space aboard the International Space Station in September 2019, under the slogan "Zayed's Ambition." He is one of the first astronauts in the UAE Astronaut Programme, launched in 2017 to train a team of Emirati astronauts, equipping them to conduct various scientific tasks in space.
