Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi returns to hero’s welcome in UAE

Sultan AlNeyadi returns to hero’s welcome in UAE

UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi received a hero’s welcome after landing in Abu Dhabi on Monday (September 18) following his historic space mission.

The 42-year-old boarded an Al Ain airplane to return to the UAE. He was accompanied by UAE astronauts Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla, as well as officials from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

AlNeyadi arrived at Abu Dhabi International Airport at around 5:20pm. His three children and his father were waiting for him as soon as he stepped out of the airplane. They exchanged hugs.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received AlNeyadi at the Abu Dhabi airport.

AlNeyadi gave Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed the UAE flag that he took with him in the International Space Station (ISS).

In the last two weeks, AlNeyadi has been recovering in Houston, Texas after landing back on Earth earlier this month following his six-month mission aboard the ISS.

AlNeyadi’s return to the UAE is being streamed live by the MBRSC. Watch it here:

AlNeyadi’s space mission has been historic since he arrived at the ISS on March 3, setting the longest Arab space mission and become the first Arab to do a spacewalk. Onboard the ISS, AlNeyadi conducted more than 200 experiments.

In Abu Dhabi, buildings lit up on Sunday night with photos of AlNeyadi. A video shared by Abu Dhabi Media Office showed the Mubadala Tower, the Adnoc building, Khalifa University and Marina Mall’s observation tower lighting up in anticipating of AlNeyadi’s homecoming. ICA/Expat Media

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