Sultan Al Neyadi has helped boost Arab capabilities in space, says renowned scientist

The Emirati astronaut completed a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station early in September

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with employees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre during a homecoming reception for UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, left, at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport terminal. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, greets members of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed and Maj Gen Essa Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, attend a homecoming reception Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets Reem Al Neyadi, daughter of Dr Al Neyadi, during the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikha Hassa bint Mohamed, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Dr Al Neyadi at the reception, which comes after the astronaut spent six months at the International Space Station. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, receive Dr Al Neyadi during a homecoming reception at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Dr Al Neyadi greets his father Saif Al Neyadi and his children during the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Hazza Al Mansouri, right, attends the homecoming for Dr Al Neyadi, who spent six months at the International Space Station. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets a member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, vice president of the Mohamed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stand for a photograph with Dr Al Neyadi and family members. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikha Salama bint Mohamed attend the reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, sit with Hazza Al Mansouri at the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attends the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attends the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed shakes hands with Dr Al Neyadi after he arrived in the UAE. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stand for a group photo with Dr Al Neyadi. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, and astronauts Mohamed Al Mulla and Noura Al Matrooshi were also present. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Dr Al Neyadi greets his children at Abu Dhabi International Airport's new Terminal A. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Dr Al Neyadi return home after six months in space. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

The Emirati astronaut returned to the UAE on Monday. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

Dr Al Neyadi with his children and father, Saif Al Neyadi, right. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed receives the UAE flag that travelled to the International Space Station with Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

'Our national flag has made its way to space for the second time,' Dr Al Neyadi told Sheikh Mohamed. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed unfurled the flag for television cameras. UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Tahnoun with Maj Al Mansouri, Dr Al Neyadi, Mr Al Mulla and Ms Al Matrooshi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mansour, Sheikh Tahnoun and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, with Dr Al Neyadi, Maj Al Mansouri, Mr Al Mulla and Ms Al Matrooshi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

From left, Saud Karmustaji, director of strategic communication at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Dr Al Neyadi, Salem Al Marri, MBRSC director general and Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, speak at Abu Dhabi International Airport's Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi is greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Photo: @MBRSpaceCentre / X

Dr Al Neyadi arrives home. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

A live-stream took place of Dr Al Neyadi's meeting with UAE Rulers on Monday evening. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi spent six months on the International Space Station. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Preparations were under way from early on Monday for Dr Al Neyadi's arrival at the new Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi's plane lands in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

Awaiting Dr Al Neyadi's arrival at Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi, who was born in Al Ain, made history by becoming the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Giant screens were spread across the terminal displaying portraits of the astronaut with messages welcoming him home. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's historic mission in space will help boost Arab capabilities in the sector, a renowned scientist has said.

Dr Farouk El Baz, an Egyptian-American scientist who worked on America’s Apollo programme in the 1960s, told The National that Dr Al Neyadi's six-month stint on the International Space Station had helped provide crucial data on how microgravity affects the human body.

The Emirati astronaut returned to the UAE on Monday and received a grand reception, with President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who received him at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

“Not only has it propelled Arab capabilities in space, but this mission, being the first with Arab involvement, holds immense value for the scientific community,” said Dr El Baz, who is currently the director of the Remote Sensing Applications Centre at Boston University.

“The mission yielded pivotal data, especially on human physiology in microgravity, essential for preparing for Mars missions.”

Crucial science work on the ISS

Dr Al Neyadi became the first Arab to carry out an extended space mission, as well as the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.

He took part in more than 200 experiments on the orbiting outpost that were assigned to him by Nasa and universities in the UAE.

Many of them focused on how the environment of space affects the mind and body, as well as research that could help advance treatment options for cancer and osteoporosis.

Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which oversees the UAE's astronaut programme, told The National that Dr Al Neyadi had also participated in dental research aboard the ISS.

Under the study, from the Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine, 10 doctors investigated how microgravity influences dental health.

They tracked Dr Al Neyadi's dental status before, during and after the mission.

“In another breakthrough, Sultan spearheaded experiments to cultivate tomatoes and lettuce in space, verifying their edibility and health benefits,” said Mr Al Marri.

Future Mars missions

Emirati space officials are also hoping that the mission would also help boost the UAE's space programme, including preparing for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

The country has a Mars 2117 strategy, which aims to build a human settlement on the Red Planet by the year 2117.

“Sultan's mission encapsulates a chapter in the blueprint for extended human space travels,” said Mr Al Marri.

He said he believes humans will be ready for trips to Mars 2040, but the Moon will be the first stop.

Space agencies such as Nasa have now shifted focus to the Moon, with the International Space Station nearing retirement.

The plan is to use the Moon as a base for astronauts and then eventually launch to Mars from there in future.

“Almost half a century post the last lunar visit, there's a compelling scientific rationale to return,” said Mr Al Marri.

“I project a lunar revisit within the coming decade, which, in essence, will be a precursor to Mars missions.”

On February 9, 2021, the UAE became the fifth country to reach Mars when its Hope probe successfully entered the planet's orbit.

Since then, it has been sending back data that has been helping the scientific community better understand the planet's atmosphere and learn why it became uninhabitable.