Sultan Al Neyadi holds up the flag of Mauritius during his live call from space. Photo: Nasa TV
Sultan Al Neyadi holds up the flag of Mauritius during his live call from space. Photo: Nasa TV
Sultan Al Neyadi holds up the flag of Mauritius during his live call from space. Photo: Nasa TV
Sultan Al Neyadi holds up the flag of Mauritius during his live call from space. Photo: Nasa TV

UAE

UAE in Space

Sultan Al Neyadi says first Arab spacewalk was a 'great responsibility'

Emirati astronaut calls school pupils in Mauritius from International Space Station

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir

May 11, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi said that carrying out the first spacewalk by an Arab astronaut “was a great responsibility” and that he was proud to have completed it successfully.

The Emirati astronaut was answering a question asked by Eddy Boissezon, acting president of Mauritius, on Thursday, as part of a live call from the International Space Station.

It was the first live video call outside of the UAE under Dr Al Neyadi's “A Call From Space” initiative, in which he answers questions from heads of states, pupils and space enthusiasts.

The astronaut completed his first spacewalk on April 28, when he stepped outside of the space station for a seven-hour maintenance assignment.

“It is an honour to speak to you live from Mauritius,” Mr Boissezon said. “I'm curious to know more about your recent spacewalk experience.”

Dr Al Neyadi replied: “The EVA [extravehicular activity, or spacewalk] was a really, really interesting feeling for me.

“It's the first time that was happening in the Arab world. So, I felt like it was a great responsibility.

“We spent seven hours outside of the station to do a lot of maintenance and preparation for installing new solar arrays for power capabilities.”

Dr Al Neyadi arrived on the orbiting laboratory on March 3 to carry out more than 200 experiments for scientists around the world, including in the UAE.

He held his first live video call with the public in March at the Dubai Opera, an event that was attended by 1,900 students, police officers and residents.

Staying safe in space

About 400 pupils attended the live call in Mauritius and many of them had questions for Dr Al Neyadi.

One pupil asked him how the astronauts on the ISS stayed safe from orbital debris.

“The ISS is orbiting Earth at an altitude of 400km and during this motion, it is susceptible to some sort of debris or floating items,” Dr Al Neyadi replied.

“So, luckily, we can monitor the larger objects and we can manoeuvre and avoid these big pieces of debris.

“But, unfortunately, some micrometeorites can hit the station and that is difficult to avoid.

“But, still, we are protected with the very hard body of the station. In case of an emergency, we are ready to react to any emergency regarding a depress of the environment inside the station.”

Manoeuvring the space station to avoid pieces of space junk has become a routine measure as low-Earth orbit becomes overcrowded.

There has been no major damage to the station so far, but debris did puncture a tiny hole into the Canadian robotic arm attached to the structure.

Adapting to life far from home

One pupil asked Dr Al Neyadi how he has adapted to seeing 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets daily.

“It was really hard for me to comprehend this environment,” Dr Al Neyadi replied.

“When we arrived I kept seeing a sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes, so it was really difficult for me.

“We use GMT [Greenwich Mean Time] and that is our reference for daily activities.”

At the weekend, he helped three of his colleagues relocate the Dragon spacecraft they had travelled to the space station in to another docking port.

This helped free up space for other spacecraft that will in later this month and in June.

Two Saudi and two American astronauts are arriving there for a 10-day trip as part of a private mission by Axiom Space.

It will be the first time three Arabs are in space together at the same time.

Dr Al Neyadi is due to return to Earth in late August.

Sultan's historic spacewalk - in pictures

  • Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi posted new pictures of his April 28 spacewalk. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
    Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi posted new pictures of his April 28 spacewalk. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
  • Dr Al Neyadi made history by becoming the first Arab to walk in space. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
    Dr Al Neyadi made history by becoming the first Arab to walk in space. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
  • He was assisted by American astronaut Stephen Bowen. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
    He was assisted by American astronaut Stephen Bowen. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
  • The spacewalk lasted six and a half hours. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
    The spacewalk lasted six and a half hours. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
  • Dr Al Neyadi prepares for the spacewalk. All subsequent photos: Nasa
    Dr Al Neyadi prepares for the spacewalk. All subsequent photos: Nasa
  • Dr Al Neyadi steps out of the International Space Station
    Dr Al Neyadi steps out of the International Space Station
  • Fellow UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, increment lead of Expedition 69 on Earth, monitoring the mission from the Johnson Space Centre
    Fellow UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, increment lead of Expedition 69 on Earth, monitoring the mission from the Johnson Space Centre
  • The view from Dr Al Neyadi's camera
    The view from Dr Al Neyadi's camera
  • The astronauts outside the space station
    The astronauts outside the space station
  • The astronauts carry out maintenance work on the International Space Station
    The astronauts carry out maintenance work on the International Space Station
  • Dr Al Neyadi, top, carries out repairs outside the ISS
    Dr Al Neyadi, top, carries out repairs outside the ISS
  • The pair exited the space station at 5.41pm GST
    The pair exited the space station at 5.41pm GST
  • The spacewalk officially began at 5.11pm when their spacesuits switched to battery power
    The spacewalk officially began at 5.11pm when their spacesuits switched to battery power
  • While the spacesuits weigh 127kg, astronauts cannot feel this weight in space
    While the spacesuits weigh 127kg, astronauts cannot feel this weight in space
  • The astronauts are tethered to the station while floating in microgravity more than 400km above the Earth
    The astronauts are tethered to the station while floating in microgravity more than 400km above the Earth
  • Dr Al Neyadi carries out repairs
    Dr Al Neyadi carries out repairs
While you're here
While you're here
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Updated: May 11, 2023, 2:50 PM
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