The UAE Central Bank issued a commemorative silver coin on Sunday in honour of the country's first astronaut.
The 40-gram coin celebrates Hazza Al Mansouri's momentous journey to space and his time spent aboard the International Space Station last September.
The coin, which features a portrait of Maj Al Mansouri, has "UAE Mission 1" and 25/09/19" engraved on it – the name of the country's space mission and the date he launched into space.
The souvenir is on sale for Dh300 at the bank's headquarters and its branches across the Emirates.
"Today we are delighted to take pride in the efforts made by the first Emirati astronaut," said Mubarak Al Mansouri, governor of the UAE Central Bank.
"We, at the Central Bank, are keen to contribute to preserving and perpetuating this historic achievement by issuing a commemorative silver coin.
"Hazza Al Mansouri has proven that we in the UAE have no such word as 'impossible', and the people of this country are able to achieve the ambitions of their wise leadership for the higher good of the homeland across all fronts."
The coin is not the first show of support for Maj Al Mansouri. Emirates Post issued six special-edition stamps on the day he set off for the ISS.
Maj Al Mansouri was also the third Arab in space.
During his eight-day stint on the ISS, he orbited the Earth 128 times – a journey of almost five million kilometres.
After returning to Earth, Maj Al Mansouri said his mission was "only the beginning" for the UAE's burgeoning space programme.
He said the Emirates would not have to wait long before they had another astronaut in space. His pledge is set to be fulfilled as the UAE Space Agency steps up efforts to recruit the next Emirati astronaut.
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, receives the UAE flag that Hazza Al Mansouri took to the International Space Station, during a homecoming reception at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi arrive at the Presidential Airport. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomes Sultan Al Neyadi back to the UAE. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomes Hazza Al Mansouri home. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Al Fursan perform a flyover the presidential flight that brought Hazza Al Mansouri, Sultan Al Neyadi and officials from Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre back to the UAE. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed greets Hazza Al Mansouri at a homecoming reception in Abu Dhabi. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Traditional ayala dancers participate in a homecoming reception for the returning UAE astronauts. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Hazza Al Mansouri is greeted by schoolchildren at the airport. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi during a home-coming reception at the Presidential Airport. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed speaks with Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazza Al Mansouri during a homecoming reception at the Presidential Airport. Seen with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Hazza Al Mansouri shows Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed a model of the Soyuz MS-15 rocket that launched him to the International Space Station. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, look at a model of the Soyuz MS-15 rocket. Abdullah Al Junaibi -
Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi each greet their fathers at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, stands for a photograph with Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikha Fatima bint Mohamed bin Hamad Al Nahyan gives Hazza Al Mansouri a note. Seen with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, stand for a photo wish Hazza Al Mansouri, Sultan Al Neyadi, Salem Al Marri, head of the National Space Programme. Courtesy Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter
Seeing his own face on UAE currency is just another example of how Maj Al Mansouri's time in space has changed his life forever.
During an event held to promote the country's space sector in November, he told of how his exploits had captured the imagination of the next generation.
“The first time I went to mosque, after returning, I met a couple of kids who asked me about the space mission,” he said.
“The next day I went back and was shocked by the crowds of children there waiting for me and I spent an hour explaining it all to them.”
A trip to Masdar Park, Abu Dhabi, with his family soon led to a crowd converging on its new hero.
“Some of the kids there recognised me and I spent two hours answering all their questions,” he said.
“My wife joked ‘that’s it, we’re not going out anymore’.”
In December, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called for applications from men and women with "ambition, energy and determination" to join Maj Al Mansouri in the record books.
Salem Al Marri, director of the UAE Astronaut Programme, said they received about 1,000 applications in the four hours after registration opened.
