Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has been made a minister in the UAE Cabinet.
The appointment came as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, released details of a reshuffle on Saturday.
Dr Al Neyadi will serve as Minister of State for Youth, which Sheikh Mohammed said was influenced by public nominations for who should fill the position.
Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will leave her post to serve as Head of the International Affairs Office in the Presidential Court.
She is succeeded by Dr Amna Al Shamsi, who has quickly moved up the ranks of young government officials to a cabinet post, Sheikh Mohammed said.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, takes on an expanded role as Deputy Prime Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs.
In other changes, Mohammed Fadel Al Mazrouei was appointed Minister of State for Defence Affairs.
He was previously an undersecretary in the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and an adviser to the Presidential Court.
Sheikh Mohammed said: “2024 will be a good year … the most beautiful and greatest in the history of the Emirates, God willing.”
Speaking about Dr Al Neyadi, Sheikh Mohammed added: “All the best to Sultan, he will continue to perform his scientific and space duties in addition to his new responsibilities.
“We are with you in this mission.”
Dr Al Neyadi returned from his six-month mission on board the International Space Station in September.
Sheikh Mohammed launched the search for a Youth Minister in the same month, with young Emiratis encouraged to register their interest in the role.
Dr Al Shamsi, the country's new Minister of Environment and Climate Change, was formerly assistant undersecretary of the care and capacity building sector at the Ministry of Education.
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Sultan Al Neyadi's homecoming - in pictures
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President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with employees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre during a homecoming reception for UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, left, at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport terminal. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, greets members of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed and Maj Gen Essa Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, attend a homecoming reception Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets Reem Al Neyadi, daughter of Dr Al Neyadi, during the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikha Hassa bint Mohamed, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Dr Al Neyadi at the reception, which comes after the astronaut spent six months at the International Space Station. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, receive Dr Al Neyadi during a homecoming reception at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Dr Al Neyadi greets his father Saif Al Neyadi and his children during the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Hazza Al Mansouri, right, attends the homecoming for Dr Al Neyadi, who spent six months at the International Space Station. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets a member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, vice president of the Mohamed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stand for a photograph with Dr Al Neyadi and family members. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikha Salama bint Mohamed attend the reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, sit with Hazza Al Mansouri at the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attends the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attends the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed shakes hands with Dr Al Neyadi after he arrived in the UAE. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stand for a group photo with Dr Al Neyadi. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, and astronauts Mohamed Al Mulla and Noura Al Matrooshi were also present. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Dr Al Neyadi greets his children at Abu Dhabi International Airport's new Terminal A. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Dr Al Neyadi return home after six months in space. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
The Emirati astronaut returned to the UAE on Monday. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media -
Dr Al Neyadi with his children and father, Saif Al Neyadi, right. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed receives the UAE flag that travelled to the International Space Station with Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
'Our national flag has made its way to space for the second time,' Dr Al Neyadi told Sheikh Mohamed. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed unfurled the flag for television cameras. UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Tahnoun with Maj Al Mansouri, Dr Al Neyadi, Mr Al Mulla and Ms Al Matrooshi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mansour, Sheikh Tahnoun and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, with Dr Al Neyadi, Maj Al Mansouri, Mr Al Mulla and Ms Al Matrooshi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
From left, Saud Karmustaji, director of strategic communication at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Dr Al Neyadi, Salem Al Marri, MBRSC director general and Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, speak at Abu Dhabi International Airport's Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Dr Al Neyadi is greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Photo: @MBRSpaceCentre / X -
Dr Al Neyadi arrives home. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media -
A live-stream took place of Dr Al Neyadi's meeting with UAE Rulers on Monday evening. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Dr Al Neyadi spent six months on the International Space Station. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Preparations were under way from early on Monday for Dr Al Neyadi's arrival at the new Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Dr Al Neyadi's plane lands in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media -
Awaiting Dr Al Neyadi's arrival at Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Dr Al Neyadi, who was born in Al Ain, made history by becoming the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Giant screens were spread across the terminal displaying portraits of the astronaut with messages welcoming him home. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
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“Amna is one of the distinguished federal cadres and we have been following her for several years, as she led a group of strategic projects in the federal government,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“She has a major mission in the environment file, developing the agricultural sector and consolidating security.”
Sheikh Mohammed praised Dr Al Shamsi's predecessor, Ms Al Mheiri.
“Mariam provided a lot to the UAE in the issue of environment and food security internally and externally. She was praised by everyone who dealt with her at home and abroad,” he said.
“She led the UAE’s bid at Cop28 with all professionalism and competence.”
As well as being appointed Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Mr Al Mazrouei becomes a member of the Council of Ministers, Sheikh Mohammed said.
Referring to Sheikh Maktoum's expanded role as Deputy Prime Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Maktoum ably led the Ministry of Finance in addition to a group of economic and commercial files at the local and federal levels.
“He established balance in our financial policies federally and locally. We trust him.”
