• UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi enters the International Space Station for the first time, on Friday. Photo: Nasa
    UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi enters the International Space Station for the first time, on Friday. Photo: Nasa
  • Dr Al Neyadi helps his fellow astronauts as they prepare to enter the space station. Photo: Nasa
    Dr Al Neyadi helps his fellow astronauts as they prepare to enter the space station. Photo: Nasa
  • Astronauts already on board the ISS prepare to receive the SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts. Photo: Nasa
    Astronauts already on board the ISS prepare to receive the SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts. Photo: Nasa
  • The Dragon capsule docks on the ISS. Photo: Nasa
    The Dragon capsule docks on the ISS. Photo: Nasa
  • The capsule approaches the space station for docking. Photo: Nasa
    The capsule approaches the space station for docking. Photo: Nasa
  • The capsule as seen from the ISS. Photo: Nasa
    The capsule as seen from the ISS. Photo: Nasa
  • The astronauts watch the docking process on their screens inside the Dragon capsule. Photo: Nasa
    The astronauts watch the docking process on their screens inside the Dragon capsule. Photo: Nasa
  • The SpaceX mission control room. Photo: Nasa
    The SpaceX mission control room. Photo: Nasa
  • The Dragon capsule during 'Waypoint 1' of its approach to the space station. Photo: Nasa
    The Dragon capsule during 'Waypoint 1' of its approach to the space station. Photo: Nasa
  • A photo taken from the space station shows the capsule above Earth. Photo: Nasa
    A photo taken from the space station shows the capsule above Earth. Photo: Nasa
  • The ISS as seen from the capsule. Photo: Nasa
    The ISS as seen from the capsule. Photo: Nasa
  • The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AFP
    The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AFP
  • Skies above the Kennedy Space Centre lit up after the rocket lifted off. Photo: nasa
    Skies above the Kennedy Space Centre lit up after the rocket lifted off. Photo: nasa
  • A long exposure shot of the rocket hurtling towards space. AFP
    A long exposure shot of the rocket hurtling towards space. AFP
  • The Crew-6 astronauts in zero gravity after launch. Photo: NASA
    The Crew-6 astronauts in zero gravity after launch. Photo: NASA
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, watches from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre as the Falcon 9 rocket lifts off . Photo: Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, watches from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre as the Falcon 9 rocket lifts off . Photo: Dubai Media Office
  • Sheikh Hamdan watches as the rocket carrying Dr Al Neyadi makes its way. Photo: Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Hamdan watches as the rocket carrying Dr Al Neyadi makes its way. Photo: Dubai Media Office
  • The crew monitoring their operation screens. Photo: NASA
    The crew monitoring their operation screens. Photo: NASA
  • The rear capsule. Photo: NASA
    The rear capsule. Photo: NASA
  • The rocket firing. Photo: NASA
    The rocket firing. Photo: NASA
  • Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, Nasa astronauts Warren Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, and the UAE's Dr Al Neyadi moments before blast-off. Photo: Nasa
    Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, Nasa astronauts Warren Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, and the UAE's Dr Al Neyadi moments before blast-off. Photo: Nasa
  • Ground teams prepare the astronauts for launch. Photo: Nasa
    Ground teams prepare the astronauts for launch. Photo: Nasa
  • Dr Al Neyadi prepares to board the spacecraft. Photo: Nasa
    Dr Al Neyadi prepares to board the spacecraft. Photo: Nasa
  • The cars carrying the astronauts approach the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo: Nasa
    The cars carrying the astronauts approach the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo: Nasa
  • Maj Fedyaev, Dr Hoburg and Capt Bowen, and Dr Al Neyadi head to the launch pad. AP
    Maj Fedyaev, Dr Hoburg and Capt Bowen, and Dr Al Neyadi head to the launch pad. AP
  • Dr Al Neyadi waves to family members. AP
    Dr Al Neyadi waves to family members. AP
  • Dr Al Neyadi said he was ready to see space this morning as the Crew-6 astronauts prepared to board. AP
    Dr Al Neyadi said he was ready to see space this morning as the Crew-6 astronauts prepared to board. AP
  • UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri arrives at the space centre to watch the launch. Sarwat Nasir / The National
    UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri arrives at the space centre to watch the launch. Sarwat Nasir / The National
  • Adnan Al Rais, manager of the UAE's second mission to the International Space Station, at the space centre. Sarwat Nasir / The National
    Adnan Al Rais, manager of the UAE's second mission to the International Space Station, at the space centre. Sarwat Nasir / The National

UAE

UAE in Space

UAE leaders hail Sultan Al Neyadi's space mission

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks of 'great pride'

The National

March 02, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

LIVE UPDATES: Sultan Al Neyadi blasts off to space

The UAE's leaders have congratulated astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi after he blasted off to space on a SpaceX rocket on Thursday.

President Sheikh Mohamed said the 41-year-old computer scientist was a source of “great pride”.

“I join the nation in congratulating Sultan Al Neyadi as he begins his pioneering mission aboard the International Space Station”, Sheikh Mohamed said.

“His inspiring achievement is a source of great pride to the UAE and another milestone in the journey of our nation and the ambitions of our people.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said Dr Al Neyadi was a true “son of the Emirates”.

Dr Al Neyadi is hurtling through space and is due to reach the International Space Station by midmorning on Friday.

Nasa will stream footage of the moment the airlock opens and the four Crew-6 astronauts including Dr Al Neyadi float into the station.

Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, who spent eight days on ISS in 2019, said he was overjoyed to see his crewmate blast-off.

"This is the first rocket launch I've seen, and I'm at a loss for words to express how happy I am to see my brother Sultan soar through the heavens," he said on Twitter.

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, said on Twitter: "A historic and important journey full of hope with the launch of the son of the Emirates, Sultan Al Neyadi, to board the International Space Station. All thanks to their highnesses for their unlimited trust and support."

"We have determination and will to expand the boundaries of knowledge and develop space technology stemming from the belief of the United Arab Emirates in the importance of space exploration.

"We are proud of the progress made by the Emirati astronauts in this historic and exceptional mission, and we eagerly await their arrival and learn about the developments of their journey."

No_One Ever Really Dies

N*E*R*D

(I Am Other/Columbia)

Salah in numbers

€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.

13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.

57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.

7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.

3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.

40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.

30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.

8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.

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

RESULTS

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

While you're here
Match info:

Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwin-turbo%2C%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20automatic%20and%20manual%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503%20bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E513Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh646%2C800%20(%24176%2C095)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Godzilla%20x%20Kong%3A%20The%20New%20Empire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Wingard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBrian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Rebecca%20Hall%2C%20Dan%20Stevens%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf 

Updated: March 02, 2023, 11:55 AM
Space