Dr Ahmad Al Falasi, Minister of Education, has been reappointed as chairman of the UAE Space Agency, the organisation that helps develop the nation's space policies and funds projects.
He replaces Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, who served as chairwoman of the agency, after being appointed in a cabinet reshuffle in 2020.
The UAE Space Agency held an event for its staff at Emirates Towers to welcome Dr Al Falasi into the role, a video that was posted on the agency's X account on Friday showed.
"Though I left this sector, I always continued to follow its achievements," Dr Al Falasi said at the event.
"Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri worked tirelessly alongside you all. We now have a robust team at the UAE Space Agency.
"Initially, we had only one project, but now we have diverse portfolio. The remarkable thing about the UAE government is that we complement each other by, passing the torch from one to another."
Dr Al Falasi previously served as chairman of the agency from 2017 to 2020.
Some of the milestone missions that were undertaken by the UAE during his tenure included sending the first Emirati to space, developing the first domestically built satellite and launching a mission to Mars.
He has an impressive portfolio in other government roles, including serving as chairman of the General Authority of Sports since 2021 and Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs in 2021.
From 2016 to 2020, he also served as the Minister of State for Higher Education.
Ms Al Amiri, who became the youngest woman to lead a space agency, congratulated Dr Al Falasi on his reappointment.
"Dr Ahmad has been an indispensable part of the space sector's dedicated team," she said.
"I had the privilege of working with him previously on the Emirates Mars Mission, and today he continues his journey.
"I give my heartfelt thanks for all you have done and gratitude for the pivotal transformations you've consistently undertaken since the establishment of the UAE Space Agency."
Ms Al Amiri also played a crucial role in the UAE's space programme, helping to lead the development of the Hope project – the Arab world's first mission to the Red Planet.
During her tenure, the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt was also announced, which is the UAE's most ambitious mission yet.
It involves launching the MBR Explorer spacecraft by 2028, with the goal of studying seven asteroids and attempting a landing on the last one.
Ms Al Amiri was dedicated to helping the UAE build a private space sector, so that the national economy would get a further boost from space activities.
It is hoped that the mission to the asteroid belt would be developed mostly by the private sector.
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Titan Sports Academy:
Programmes: Judo, wrestling, kick-boxing, muay thai, taekwondo and various summer camps
Location: Inside Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: 971 50 220 0326
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
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The UAE's journey to space
Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
