Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Mission 2 team

In a touching gesture, Al Neyadi presented Sheikh Mohamed with a framed image showing the United Arab Emirates at night along with another image of Abu Dhabi in daylight captured by him from space. AlMansoori also presented a treasured souvenir from his first space mission: a framed photograph of Sheikh Mohamed along with the flag of the United Arab Emirates that traveled with him to space.

Underscoring the importance of their achievements, Sheikh Mohamed praised Al Neyadi and AlMansoori for inspiring the youth of the UAE and the Arab world while pushing boundaries in the UAE’s relentless journey towards progress. Furthermore, he congratulated the UAE Mission 2 team at MBRSC for their support and dedication throughout the mission.

Al Neyadi shared his experience and insights from his six-month mission aboard the ISS with Sheikh Mohamed. He also shed light on pioneering experiments and collaborations with international space entities and recounted moments from the first Arab spacewalk, which lasted 7 hours and 1 minute.

Meanwhile, AlMansoori, who was the first Arab leader of the surge, explained to Sheikh Mohamed his fundamental role in Expedition 69, recounting his experiences helping Al Neyadi and coordinating various tasks with members of the Mission Control Center crew in Houston.

The MBRSC team, led by Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Chairman of the MBRSC, and Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of the MBRSC, together with members of the mission, emphasized their gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed and acknowledged his strong support. The team also provided an overview of the UAE Astronaut Program and highlighted future missions.

Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Chairman of the MBRSC, said: “The visionary leadership and unwavering support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has been the foundation on which the aspirations of countless Emirati achievements have been built. Our meeting with Sheikh Mohamed serves as an affirmation of our nation’s commitment to pioneering the frontiers of space. Through strategic foresight and alignment with the rapidly advancing space sector, we are prepared not only to nurture our nation’s talents but also to give “shape the future of space exploration. Carrying forward the legacy of our founding fathers, we are reinvigorated to make even greater advancements in space science and exploration.”

Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of the MBRSC, said: “We thank His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his visionary leadership and guidance as we chart the roadmap for the future of the space sector in the UAE. The success of “The mission undertaken by Sultan represents a fundamental leap in MBRSC’s journey, laying the foundation for a series of ambitious space flights ahead. Our goal is to continually elevate innovation, exploration and discovery in the field of space.” .