Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is flanked by Hazza Al Mansouri, left, and Sultan Al Neyadi, right. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is flanked by Hazza Al Mansouri, left, and Sultan Al Neyadi, right. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is flanked by Hazza Al Mansouri, left, and Sultan Al Neyadi, right. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is flanked by Hazza Al Mansouri, left, and Sultan Al Neyadi, right. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter

Sheikh Mohammed meets the men training to carry the UAE flag into space for the first time


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has met with two Emiratis who are training to carry the UAE flag into space for the first time.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai welcomed Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi to his palace in Zabeel during his weekly majlis.

The pair were picked from among 4,022 applicants for the chance to become the UAE's first astronaut later this year. Both men have undergone a rigorous training programme in Russia to prepare for the mission on September 25. But only one will be selected for the mission, with the announcement expected in May.

Whoever is chosen to take the historic first step into space, will spend a week on the International Space Station to conduct scientific experiments related to space, planets and gravity.

And he will not be the last Emirati to travel into space, with plans to launch an exploration probe to Mars to mark the nation's 50th anniversary in 2021. The UAE Space Agency also intends to establish the first human colony on Mars by 2117.

Sheikh Mohammed wished the astronauts success in their journey.

"Our country has invested in science, education and training the youth. We rely on them to establish a solid and sustainable foundation for all forms of scientific, knowledge and social advancement," he said.

"The nation’s youth, who are armed with science, knowledge and resolve, are the cornerstones of construction, the knights of the horses, and the models of excellence, who are walking with Allah’s blessing. May Allah Almighty bless your journey."

A number of others attended the majlis, including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Strait of Hormuz

Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.

The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.

Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.

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2021 World Triathlon Championship Series

May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China

Dr Graham's three goals

Short term

Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines


Intermediate term

Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations


Long term

A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness  

FIXTURES

UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

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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.

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year