Five years ago, Major Hazza Al Mansouri strapped into a Russian rocket and blasted off, carrying the hopes of an entire nation with him as the UAE's first astronaut.
He soared 400km above Earth, embarking on an eight-day mission to the International Space Station on September 25, 2019, where he symbolised the country's growing ambitions in space exploration.
From conducting scientific experiments in microgravity to sharing his view of Earth with people on social media, Maj Al Mansouri’s journey was a defining moment for the Arab world, helping to spark a wave of enthusiasm for space exploration across the region.
Reflecting on the mission, Maj Al Mansouri, 40, spoke to The National from Houston, Texas, where he is working to help develop Nasa’s planned lunar-orbiting station which the UAE is contributing to.
“There are so many memories from my mission – looking at my beloved country from the space station and doing the experiments … I’ll always remember and reflect on them because our country gave us this chance to be part of this is a big thing,” he said.
Now, Maj Al Mansouri has his sights on the Moon to help build the foundation for the Gateway, a lunar-orbiting station that Nasa plans to complete by 2030. The project will be a critical centre for human exploration serving as a stepping stone to more ambitious missions, including those to Mars.
The UAE has signed up to deliver an airlock, which future astronauts will use to enter and exit the station to perform spacewalks.
“The next step is the Moon – that’s the new frontier and from there, we can go to Mars,” he said.
“I’m currently at the Johnson Space Centre, working with the different teams and engineers to develop the airlock.
“Our engineers are also here working side by side with Nasa. This is so exciting – to be part of a future mission and something that's going to benefit not only the UAE or the region but all of humanity.”
An experienced astronaut
Maj Al Mansouri credits the experience gained from his mission five years ago for allowing him to work on such critical projects.
While he spent eight days in space, he had an intense schedule carrying out several science experiments related to the effects of microgravity on the human body and conducting live calls with pupils in the Emirates from the station.
“Because I’m an astronaut I have that experience of interacting with an airlock,” he said.
“So that gives me a different perspective to help the engineers develop the airlock for the Gateway.”
In exchange for delivering an airlock to Nasa's Gateway, an Emirati astronaut will fly to the station.
Maj Al Mansouri is also continuing his training as an astronaut while in Houston so he remains ready if another space mission is assigned, whether it is to the ISS or the Gateway.
With four members now in the UAE's astronaut corps, the decision remains with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to determine the nominated astronaut.
Staying prepared for new adventures
Maj Al Mansouri said he would be keen on returning to the ISS after making “unforgettable memories” from his first mission, which also helped inspire his four children who were in attendance in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, for the launch.
“My youngest kid was only two years old when he was there for my mission,” Maj Al Mansouri said.
“But he saw Sultan's mission and he was asking me about the water floating in space like a bubble and I explained to him about the effect of weightlessness.”
Dr Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, was the backup astronaut for Maj Al Mansouri's mission. However, with the UAE keen on establishing a sustainable astronaut programme, he was sent on the Arab world's first extended mission to space and carried out a spacewalk last year.
When asked what he did not miss about being in space, Maj Al Mansouri said: “Definitely the food. After being there for a couple of days, you do get used to the food but you have a limited menu.”
More giant leaps to be made
Since his mission, the UAE's space programme has expanded rapidly, establishing itself as a significant player in global space exploration efforts.
The country launched the Hope Probe to Mars in 2020, becoming the first Arab nation to reach the Red Planet and providing valuable data on its atmosphere.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre launched a rover to the Moon in 2022, though, the lander carrying it failed to land softly on the lunar surface. Engineers are now developing a second rover.
Efforts are also being made to establish a private space sector in the country to improve innovation and so that government-led missions can be complemented by commercial enterprises, creating a sustainable ecosystem for space exploration.
The next significant mission for the UAE is the launch of the MBZ-Sat satellite, named after President Sheikh Mohamed. It is expected to be launched aboard a SpaceX rocket in October. It has been designed to be the region's most advanced imaging satellite and is much more powerful than its predecessor KhalifaSat, which launched in 2018.
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
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15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Command%20Z
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Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Available: Now
The years Ramadan fell in May
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
WIDE%20VIEW
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
