President Sheikh Mohamed has congratulated UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on his return to Earth.
Dr Al Neyadi and three fellow astronauts arrived back on Earth on Monday, after departing the International Space Station 17 hours earlier.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying them splashed down off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 8.17am UAE time.
Dr Al Neyadi gave the thumbs up as he emerged from the Dragon capsule aboard SpaceX support vessel Megan.
“Sultan Al Neyadi, the people of the UAE are immensely proud of you and the entire team for achieving major advances in space exploration,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“You carried the dreams of a nation to new frontiers, and we celebrate your pioneering journey and safe return,” said Sheikh Mohamed.
The mission was the UAE's second human space flight and the Arab world's first extended mission. It also marked the first time an Arab astronaut performed a spacewalk.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said Dr Al Neyadi's achievements inspired millions of young Arabs.
“We congratulate the people of the Emirates and all Arab youth on the safe return of Sultan Al Neyadi to planet Earth – the first Arab astronaut on a long mission to the International Space Station,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote.
“Sultan conducted 200 scientific research missions … and spent more than 4,400 hours in space … and inspired millions of Arab youth that we are able to contribute positively to humanity's scientific and cultural journey.”
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, wrote of Dr Al Neyadi's safe return on X.
“We congratulate the people of the Emirates on the safe return of Sultan Al Neyadi to Earth after the completion of the longest space mission in the history of the Arabs,” he wrote.
Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, also shared his congratulations, saying how UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had put the country on a path of exploration.
“With Zayed's ambition, we moved from the desert to space,” said Sheikh Hamdan.
“Today with the return of Sultan Al Neyadi after completing the longest space mission in the history of the Arabs, we are crowning an important stage in the march of a people who do not know the impossible.
“From today, we are preparing for other tasks in our journey to embrace the stars so that the UAE continues to spread hope,” he said.
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, said Dr Al Neyadi's achievements are a reflection of the aspirations of the UAE.
“The success of the Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi in his six-month mission aboard the International Space Station is only a reflection of the aspirations of a country that set out from the desert to embrace the space stars with its aspiration and achieve qualitative and historical achievements that established the name of our country regionally and globally as the first Arab country to accomplish the longest space mission in Arab history,” Sheikh Mansoor wrote on Twitter.
“We are proud of Sultan and all the youth of the Emiratis who sow hope for a better future in the hearts of millions of Arab youth. Thank God for your safety, Sultan,” he said.
In a message to Dr Al Neyadi, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, president of Dubai Civil Aviation and chairman of Dubai Airports, wrote: “Your International Space Station journey is a testament to Sheikh Mohamed's visionary leadership, in taking our nation's nascent space industry to a new frontier,” he wrote.
“Congratulations to the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the UAE on this monumental achievement.”
Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, said the country's ambitions are “limitless”.
“Zayed's ambition is transformed by his children into reality so that the UAE continues to reap the fruits of the leadership's vision and invest it in education, youth and future,” he wrote.
“Sultan Al Neyadi returned to Earth, and our ambition in space and our aspirations remained limitless, so that the UAE could continue to be a home of excellence and leadership.
“Thank you as big as the sky for the leadership that believes in the youth of the Emirates and their capabilities,” he wrote on Twitter.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, the chairwoman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, shared her congratulations on social media.
“Today unveils a new chapter in the UAE's journey of possibilities,” she wrote.
“We congratulate Sultan Al Neyadi, our space envoy, on his safe return to Earth, fulfilling a new national aspiration after the success of the longest Arab astronaut mission. We thank God for your safety.
“Your journey has proved that the impossible is possible and this is just the beginning,” she said.
After leaving the Dragon capsule, Dr Al Neyadi, Nasa astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev were due to board a helicopter to Tampa, Florida.
From there they were set to take a flight to Houston, Texas, to be reunited with their families.
Then, they will take part in medical tests, which could take up to two weeks.
Dr Al Neyadi will then return to the UAE to take part in celebrations being held in his honour.
He will then return to the US for a full mission debriefing.
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Results
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
SPECS
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Brief scores:
Arsenal 4
Xhaka 25', Lacazette 55', Ramsey 79', Aubameyang 83'
Fulham 1
Kamara 69'
