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A Closer Look: How Hazza Al Mansouri's trip to space sparked the Emirati programme

We hear from The National's Space Editor, Sarwat Nasir

The National

September 25, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

In A Closer Look, The National provides an in-depth take on one of the main stories of the week

Five years ago, Hazza Al Mansouri made history by becoming the first Emirati to venture into space.

Blasting off from Kazakhstan on September 25, 2019, the astronaut kicked off what would quickly become the UAE's vastly impressive space programme.

Shortly after his week-long mission, the UAE's Hope probe was launched, followed by notable events such as the second Emirati in space, Dr Sultan Al Neyadi – who became first Arab to perform a spacewalk – and the attempted landing of the Rashid Rover.

Here, host Sarah Forster speaks to The National's Space Editor Sarwat Nasir about watching that historic launch first hand and the rapid progress made since.

Read more

Five years on: Astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri reflects on being first Emirati in space

Emirati astronauts Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazza Al Mansouri begin tour of UAE schools

UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi becomes first Arab to walk in space: in pictures

Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi posted new pictures of his April 28 spacewalk. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi posted new pictures of his April 28 spacewalk. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
Dr Al Neyadi made history by becoming the first Arab to walk in space. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
Dr Al Neyadi made history by becoming the first Arab to walk in space. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
He was assisted by American astronaut Stephen Bowen. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
He was assisted by American astronaut Stephen Bowen. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
The spacewalk lasted six and a half hours. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
The spacewalk lasted six and a half hours. Photo: @Astro_Alneyadi / Twitter
Dr Al Neyadi prepares for the spacewalk. All subsequent photos: Nasa
Dr Al Neyadi prepares for the spacewalk. All subsequent photos: Nasa
Dr Al Neyadi steps out of the International Space Station
Dr Al Neyadi steps out of the International Space Station
Fellow UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, increment lead of Expedition 69 on Earth, monitoring the mission from the Johnson Space Centre
Fellow UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, increment lead of Expedition 69 on Earth, monitoring the mission from the Johnson Space Centre
The view from Dr Al Neyadi's camera
The view from Dr Al Neyadi's camera
The astronauts outside the space station
The astronauts outside the space station
The astronauts carry out maintenance work on the International Space Station
The astronauts carry out maintenance work on the International Space Station
Dr Al Neyadi, top, carries out repairs outside the ISS
Dr Al Neyadi, top, carries out repairs outside the ISS
The pair exited the space station at 5.41pm GST
The pair exited the space station at 5.41pm GST
The spacewalk officially began at 5.11pm when their spacesuits switched to battery power
The spacewalk officially began at 5.11pm when their spacesuits switched to battery power
While the spacesuits weigh 127kg, astronauts cannot feel this weight in space
While the spacesuits weigh 127kg, astronauts cannot feel this weight in space
The astronauts are tethered to the station while floating in microgravity more than 400km above the Earth
The astronauts are tethered to the station while floating in microgravity more than 400km above the Earth
Dr Al Neyadi carries out repairs
Dr Al Neyadi carries out repairs
Company%C2%A0profile
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

On Women's Day
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E25%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Ireland%20v%20UAE*%3Cbr%3E27%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Zimbabwe**%3Cbr%3E29%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Netherlands%20v%20UAE*%3Cbr%3E3%20May%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Vanuatu*%3Cbr%3E5%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%3Cbr%3E7%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Final%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEsha%20Oza%20(captain)%2C%20Al%20Maseera%20Jahangir%2C%20Avanee%20Patel%2C%20Heena%20Hotchandani%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Mehak%20Thakur%2C%20Rinitha%20Rajith%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E*Zayed%20Cricket%20Stadium%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E**Tolerance%20Oval%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Spare

Profile

Company name: Spare

Started: March 2018

Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah

Based: UAE

Sector: FinTech

Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

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How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Updated: October 11, 2024, 12:30 PM`
A Closer Look