Mashable: Sultan AlNeyadi presented the UAE President with a special image of the country he captured from the ISS

President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who successfully accomplished the Arab world’s first long-duration space mission.

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the UAE President besides Sultan Al Neyadi received astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori and Mohammad AlMulla as well as the UAE Mission 2 team from the Dubai-based Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi.

According to Khaleej Times, His Highness engaged with the astronauts and talked about details of the Arab world’s longest space mission. Sheikh Mohammed also commended the MBRSC team on the mission’s success and for realising the Father of the Nation, late Sheikh Zayed’s ambition through the historic journey.

The “Sultan of Space” in a poignant gesture, presented His Highness Sheikh Mohamed with a framed image as a gift. The framed image consisted of the image of the Arab country he clicked from space at night alongside another image of Abu Dhabi in daylight.

Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi took part in various experiments and collaborations with international space entities. He also became the first Arab to conduct a spacewalk which lasted over 7 hours.

It is always inspiring to meet H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I was honoured to present images of the UAE that I captured from space to His Highness. Under your leadership, we will continue the path of exploration. 

pic.twitter.com/XJ4iTz9L2j

— Sultan AlNeyadi (@Astro_Alneyadi) November 1, 2023
Meanwhile, the UAE President reportedly discussed the recent training sessions with Mohammad AlMulla, which he underwent with astronaut Nora AlMatrooshi as a part of the upcoming human spaceflight missions.

Emirati astronaut Hazza AlMansoori, the first person from the United Arab Emirates in space also handed a cherished memento from his first space mission which he embarked on in the year 2019 to the International Space Station (ISS).

كل الشكر والتقدير لسيدي صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان، رئيس دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، على هذا اللقاء الملهم أمس، وعلى الدعم الاستثنائي لبرنامج الإمارات الوطني للفضاء..

تشرفنا بإطلاع سيدي صاحب السمو على أبرز ما حققته أطول مهمة فضائية بتاريخ العرب، خلال الزيارة التي… pic.twitter.com/gCPbwQy6ri

— Salem AlMarri سالم حميد المري (@Salem_HAlMarri) November 1, 2023
We express our gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for our inspirational meeting with him yesterday and his unparalleled support for the UAE National Space Programme.

During a visit with our colleagues from MBRSC, including directors,… pic.twitter.com/1PkC4QXHlN

— Salem AlMarri سالم حميد المري (@Salem_HAlMarri) November 1, 2023
The Emirati astronaut shared a framed picture of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed paired with the flag of the United Arab Emirates that journeyed with him to outer space.

President Sheikh Mohamed also congratulated the UAE Mission 2 team at the Dubai-based MBRSC for the mission.