UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will be calling home on his birthday on Tuesday.
He is due to make a live call from the International Space Station to speak to the public in his hometown of Al Ain on his 42nd birthday.
It will be the fourth instalment of his 'A Call from Space' initiative, in which he speaks to heads of state, pupils and space enthusiasts live from the orbiting outpost.
Dr Al Neyadi arrived at the space station on March 3 for a six-month mission – the first long-duration space mission by an Arab astronaut.
“Each call we share with Sultan is an invaluable window into the realities of life beyond our planet,” said Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
“It is also an opportunity to learn, to inspire, and to fuel our collective curiosity.
“We are not only hearing about an astronaut's journey but also shaping the future narrative of space exploration for our country and the world.”
Dr Al Neyadi is from Umm Ghafa, a residential district in Al Ain located on the south-eastern side of the city.
He has previously shared an image of his hometown from the space station.
“Greetings to everyone in Al Ain,” Dr Al Neyadi wrote on Twitter last month, accompanied by his picture of the UAE's Garden City.
“My cherished recollections of Umm Ghafa, its inviting streets and its warm-hearted people remain etched in my memory forever.”
The event will take place at UAE University in Al Ain at 2pm, with doors opening from 1pm onwards.
There are limited seats and those interested in attending must book their place on the MBRSC website.
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Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
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Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
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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.
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“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.”
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THE BIO
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First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
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Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
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