Sultan Al Neyadi hails Suez Canal as 'heart of global trade' in latest space picture

Emirati astronaut says waterway has helped to connect continents

The Suez Canal as seen from the International Space Station. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi

Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has hailed Egypt's Suez Canal as "the heart of global trade" after sharing a picture of the vast waterway captured from space.

The trailblazing space traveller said the key shipping link had "brought continents closer" for more than 150 years.

Dr Al Neyadi has helped put the region and its achievements in sharp focus with a series of photographs taken 400km above Earth.

He has built up an impressive photo album of stellar snapshots since arriving on the International Space Station on March 3.

"A view from space of the Suez Canal: Heart of global trade," wrote Dr Al Neyadi on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"This artificial waterway in Egypt connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and has brought continents closer for over 150 years."

About 12 per cent of global trade passes through the canal, which provides the shortest route between Asia and Europe.

Dr Al Neyadi is taking part in the Arab world's first long-duration space mission.

He is due to return to Earth within weeks, with a final date to be confirmed.

His previous eye-catching photography includes an active volcano in the Philippines as well as wildfires raging across Southern Europe and a cyclone as it gathered strength in the Arabian Sea.

He has also shared a wide variety of images of the UAE, including his hometown of Umm Ghafa in Al Ain.

Sultan Al Nayadi's photo album from space - in pictures

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  Wadis, or river valleys that are dry in winter months, in Yemen were pictured by UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi from the ISS on May 16, 2023. All photos: Nasa

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  The Yemeni cities of Little Aden and Aden, on the coast of the Arabian Sea near the Red Sea, pictured by UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on April 19, 2023.

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  Sultan took a picture of Aden in Yemen on June 5. He described the country as "a land of endearing warmth, rich history, millennia-old civilisation, and architectural wonders".

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  The Dead Sea (left), on the border between the Middle Eastern nations of Israel and Jordan, and Amman (center), the capital of Jordan - captured by Dr Al Neyadi from the ISS on April 13, 2023.

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  Sand dunes in the desert area along the Saudi Arabia-Oman border. The image was captured by UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on May 16, 2023.

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  The middle eastern nation of Oman and its Dhofar mountains on the coast of the Arabian Sea were pictured by UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on April 13, 2023.

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  Wadis, or river valleys that are dry in winter months, in Yemen were captured by UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on May 16, 2023.

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  The semi-arid city of Hama, Syria, was pictured by UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi from the International Space Station on April 3, 2023.

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  Sand dunes in the desert area along the Saudi Arabia-Oman border captured by Sultan Al Neyadi from the ISS on May 16, 2023.

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  Another image of wadis in Yemen taken by UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi on May 16, 2023.

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  An image of the UAE and Oman from the International Space Station, captured by Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi/Twitter

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  Sultan Al Neyadi has shared an image of Abu Dhabi from space. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / Twitter

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  Dr Al Neyadi captured an image of his hometown of Umm Ghafa in Al Ain on April 12, 2023.