Dubai airports stamp passports with Sultan Al Neyadi homecoming message

Emirati astronaut to receive a hero's welcome when he returns to the UAE on Monday

Passengers flying to Dubai airports will be given a Sultan Al Neyadi homecoming passport stamp. Photo: GDRFA Dubai

Passengers arriving at Dubai airports will receive a stamp to mark the return of UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi after his historic six-month space mission.

On September 18 and 19, the slogan “The Return of the Hero Sultan Al Neyadi” will be stamped inside passports to mark the occasion and the Emirati's achievements.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs Dubai announced the introduction of a stamp on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.

The stamp was created in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre after it announced last week the date for the astronaut's return to the UAE.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director of DGRFA, said the decision aimed to showcase the strides made in the country's space exploration and scientific research.

"The GDRFA is committed to supporting national milestones, and we [are] truly proud of this new Emirati feat in the realm of space exploration," he said in a statement.

"Sending the first Emirati astronaut to space symbolises excellence and technological advancement in the UAE, reflecting our dedication to progress and significant contributions to space exploration for the benefit of humanity."

Dr Al Neyadi returns to the UAE for a long-awaited homecoming after his historic mission in space on Monday.

Dr Al Neyadi was pictured in a group photo shared on social media with his travelling party in front of the UAE aircraft flying him back to the Emirates.

The astronaut is set to receive a hero's welcome when he sets foot on home soil after helping to inspire a new generation of space enthusiasts.

He returned to Earth on September 4, after which he has been taking part in a recovery programme in Houston, Texas, to help him readapt to gravity.

Dr Al Neyadi is being accompanied on the journey home by Hazza Al Mansouri, who was the first Emirati to travel to space in 2019.

Sultan Al Neyadi returns to Earth after six months – in pictures