UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has said he is in good health after returning to Earth at the end of his historic space mission.
He spent six months on board the International Space Station and travelled back home on Monday on a SpaceX capsule.
Dr Al Neyadi is to spend several days undergoing medical tests in Houston, Texas, before he returns to the UAE to receive a hero's welcome.
"From Earth to space and back," he said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.
"I write to you with gravity under my feet and warmth in my heart from all the love and support you all have shared.
"Thank you all for being part of this journey with me. Friends, I’m in good health and looking forward to meeting you all very soon."
This was the UAE’s second human space flight and the Arab world’s first long-term mission. Dr Al Neyadi also became the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk.
President Sheikh Mohamed on Monday congratulated Dr Al Neyadi on his return to Earth.
“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.
“You carried the dreams of a nation to new frontiers, and we celebrate your pioneering journey and safe return."
Dr Al Neyadi carried out more than 200 science experiments aboard the ISS, including those assigned by Nasa and others set out by universities across the UAE.
He also spent time documenting Earth from above, capturing images of countries in the Mena region.
Pupils across the UAE spoke with him through live calls, as part of the A Call from Space initiative launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which oversees the country’s astronaut programme.
Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut to travel to space, was given a hero's welcome when he returned from an eight-day mission on the ISS in 2019.
He was received by Sheikh Mohamed.
The UAE now waits to welcome Dr Al Neyadi, who floated his way into history books with his work on the orbiting outpost.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre will announce the dates of his homecoming soon.
He will then return to the US for mission debriefing, during which he will work with researchers to complete the science investigations he took part in.
He will report back on the work he did in space and participate in tests to measure the effect microgravity had on his mental and physical health.
Dr Al Neyadi will also participate in a mandatory recovery programme that will help him acclimate to gravity again.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
Europe's top EV producers
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- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Dunki
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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Date of start: 2013
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Four Corners
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v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, header, from Trippier corner)
v Sweden, Quarter-Final (Maguire, header, from Young corner)
One Free-Kick
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
