Meet Sultan AlNeyadi, the first person from the Arab world to go to space
UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi has marked a triumphant return to Earth after a remarkable six-month sojourn aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Notably, AlNeyadi holds the distinction of being the first person from the Arab world to journey into the cosmos and the first Arab astronaut to accomplish a 7-hour spacewalk.
In a heartfelt message to the cosmos, AlNeyadi conveyed, «Space, this is not a goodbye.
I will see you later, whether on a new mission to the ISS or a farther destination. I thank my beloved country for turning our dreams into achievements and all of you for your trust and affection.
Wish us a safe return. We'll meet soon,» as he penned his thoughts upon departure from the ISS.
During his extended tenure at the ISS, AlNeyadi reportedly spearheaded over 200 advanced research experiments and studies, investing a total of 585 hours in collaborative efforts with 10 international space agencies and 25 esteemed institutions, including universities both within the UAE and globally.
Born on May 23, 1981, in Umm Ghafa, 30 kilometers southeast of Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, AlNeyadi went to the United Kingdom, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Brighton.
Subsequently, he returned to the UAE, dedicating his skills to the Armed Forces.
AlNeyadi also has a Master's degree in Information Technology (IT) from Griffith University in Australia. His career included a role as a Network Security Engineer for the UAE Armed Forces, which afforded him the opportunity to travel to more than 20 countries worldwide.
AlNeyadi returned to Australia in 2012 to do his PhD in Information Technology, with a specialization in Data Leakage Prevention.
