Arab world's first space flight by woman astronaut delayed

The Arab world's first space mission by a female astronaut has been put on hold, less than a week before the historic event was scheduled.

Rayyanah Barnawi and fellow Saudi astronaut Ali Al Qarni were due to blast off to the International Space Centre from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on May 9, at 6.43am UAE time.

The ISS on Wednesday issued a statement confirming it was "no longer targeting opportunities in early May" for the milestone journey.

It said Nasa, SpaceX and Axiom Space, the company in Houston that has helped arrange the trip for Saudi Arabia, were working to pinpoint a new date.

"Nasa, Axiom Space and SpaceX are working together to identify the best available opportunity to launch the Axiom Mission 2 to the International Space Station," the ISS said in a message released on Twitter.

"We are no longer targeting opportunities in early May. More information on the updated target launch date will be shared soon."

No reason has been given for the postponement.

Axiom Space confirmed the delay in its own post on social media and said the crew remained ready for its mission.

The Saudi space travellers are to be joined on the planned 10-day mission by former Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson, as commander, and pilot John Shoffner.

Crew members (L-R) John Shoffner, Rayyanah Barnawi, Peggy Whitson and Ali Al Qarni. Photo: Axiom Space

They are scheduled to join Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on board the orbiting space laboratory.

Dr Al Neyadi arrived on the ISS on March 3 for a six-month stint, the first such long-duration mission undertaken by an Arab astronaut.

Mishaal Ashemimry, who leads microgravity research at the Saudi Space Commission, previously said this would be the first flight under the kingdom's sustainable human space flight programme that was announced in September.

Saudi Arabia sent the first Arab into space in 1985 when Prince Sultan bin Salman took off on a space shuttle for a seven-day trip, but no long-term exploration programme followed.

“This is a significant milestone for us in the kingdom as we launch our first female and our second male to space,” Ms Ashemimry said.

“We're excited about this mission because it's an inaugural mission of our human space flight programme."

Twenty science experiments had been assigned to the AX-2 crew and the Saudi astronauts are expected focus on 11 that have been presented to them by universities in the kingdom.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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