UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi is hoping that his next voyage to space will include a visit to a planned station in the Moon’s orbit.
Nasa has plans to build a small station – called Lunar Gateway – that would begin to orbit the Moon by the end of this decade.
Astronauts would use the structure as a base before descending to the lunar surface to carry out exploration missions.
Dr Al Neyadi, 42, was speaking at a briefing on Monday, hours after he landed in Abu Dhabi from Houston, Texas.
As you know, space has a lot of effects. We don't know what could happen. Bodies receive a lot of radiation
Sultan Al Neyadi
He received a grand reception in his home country after completing a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.
“We all know about the Gateway,” Dr Al Neyadi said in a response to a question by The National.
“It's a proposed station that will orbit the Moon, so I would love to be part of it.”
The station is part of Nasa's Artemis programme, which aims to put humans on the Moon for long-term missions.
Space agencies are looking to retire the ISS by the end of this decade due to rising costs and ageing infrastructure. Focus has instead shifted to missions to the Moon and Mars.
The National reported last year that the UAE was exploring ways of helping design the Gateway, including providing an airlock module on the station.
This is an airtight room that astronauts would use to enter and exit the space station.
It would be a turning point for the UAE's space programme, which could help give Emirati astronauts access to the Moon.
Dr Al Neyadi said that training for these kinds of missions is crucial.
“I would to love to go there but it depends on the opportunity and suitability for the mission,” he said.
“As you know, space has a lot of effects. We don't know what could happen. Bodies receive a lot of radiation.
“We're still under the process of identifying what sort of impact the six months in space has had on my body.”
Spend time in nature
Dr Al Neyadi, born and raised in Al Ain, also spoke about what he plans to do now that he is back home.
The father of six wants to spend time in nature and with his children, as well as pray.
His daughter and two of his sons greeted their father on Monday as he exited the aircraft.
“I think it was good to see all of them here and I said hello to all of them,” said Dr Al Neyadi.
“So, if I go to home tonight, I think first thing I'm going to do is sleep and then would love to go out into the nature.
“I would love to pray and spend some quality time with the family. Explain everything to them and answer questions they'll have.”
More missions for Emirati astronauts
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre hopes to secure missions to the ISS every two to three years.
It also has Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla in its astronaut corps.
Ms Al Matrooshi, the first Emirati woman to be selected as an astronaut, and Mr Al Mulla are currently training in Nasa's Johnson Space Centre in Houston.
They will become eligible for missions once they graduate early next year.
Maj Al Mansouri, who spent eight days aboard the ISS in 2019, said at the briefing that he was proud of Dr Al Neyadi.
“In this second mission, we've proved to everyone that if you're dedicated, you can achieve anything,” he said.
“We were happy to see his smile after he landed. This mission wasn't easy – it was six months in space, but it's going be written in history and we're all very proud of this.”
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
Jawan
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
