Emirati astronauts Dr Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazza Al Mansouri started a tour of schools across the UAE this week.
Dr Al Neyadi, who was recently appointed Minister of State for Youth Affairs, made the announcement on social media platform X on Thursday.
"The ambitions of our students are truly inspiring!" he said.
"This week, I started a tour of UAE schools with Hazza Al Mansouri.
"We engaged with students in discussions about our missions and the space sector.
"I am confident that they will continue our journey and reach further destinations."
He shared pictures of pupils meeting both himself and Mr Al Mansouri.
Al Kamal American International School - Al Azra, in Sharjah, was among the schools to feature on the tour. A source told The National the astronauts would be visiting "random" schools across the country.
It was only last month Dr Al Neyadi was named as Minister of State for Youth Affairs in a UAE Cabinet reshuffle.
That came after he returned last year from a six-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS).
He was part the Expedition 69 mission, which ended on September 3.
On the ISS he took part in more than 200 experiments assigned by Nasa and universities in the UAE.
It was the UAE’s second human space flight and the Arab world’s first extended mission – as well as the first time an Arab astronaut had performed a spacewalk.
The first Emirati in space was Hazza Al Mansouri who is accompanying Dr Al Neyadi on the school tour.
Mr Al Mansouri made history when he spent eight days on board the ISS in September 2019.
Both astronauts were received by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, in a special ceremony to mark their achievements in November.
The event took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Fernando Jara (jockey), Irfan Ellahi (trainer).
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,400m
Winner: Yaalail, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh180,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Fernando Jara, Helal Al Alawi.
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2.200m
Winner: Ezz Al Rawasi, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.
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SQUADS
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
ICC match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
