Sultan Al Neyadi has been spending time with family and adjusting to life on Earth after living in space for half a year.
The astronaut spoke to The National aboard a special two-hour flight by Emirates airline on Tuesday, which was organised to celebrate the nation's achievements in space.
Tuesday afternoon's flight was a little unusual for the Emirati astronaut as it never reached space, touring all seven emirates instead.
He was joined by mission colleagues Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg aboard flight EK2641.
The astronauts were part of Expedition 69, a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station that ended on September 3.
“Six months is a long duration, so I'm really happy to be home, just living as a normal person,” said Dr Al Neyadi, a father of six who was born and raised in Al Ain.
The exterior of the Emirates A380 aircraft was decorated in an astronaut graphic and a logo of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre – the organisation that oversees the astronaut programme.
It departed from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport with a special message from the pilot, who said he was delighted to welcome passengers on board the flight that was carrying Emirati, Russian and Nasa astronauts.
The astronauts and MBRSC employees toured the seven emirates, flying at a much lower altitude than usual.
Dr Al Neyadi said that the flight was a “great way to thank everyone”.
“I think it's incredible. It's a great symbol of unity,” he said.
“I'm really grateful to everybody who helped me throughout the mission, especially the MBRSC employees and the Expedition 69 crew members.”
The Emirati astronaut was launched into space on March 2 from a Florida spaceport aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
He floated his way into the history books as the first Arab to go on an extended mission and to perform a spacewalk.
Both he and Mr Bowen stepped out into the darkness of space to carry out a seven-hour maintenance task on April 28.
Adel Al Redha, chief operating officer at Emirates, said that the flight was the company's way of celebrating what Dr Al Neyadi had accomplished.
“We are really pleased to have been able to dedicate this flight, in co-operation with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, for the return of our astronaut. He completed a very successful journey in space,” he said.
“Space has become a focus to many leaders. There are many experiments taking place in space and that will translate into benefits for the global society.”
Dr Al Neyadi took part in more than 200 science experiments assigned to him by Nasa, MBRSC and universities across the UAE.
Some of his research involved life sciences, including wearing a biomonitor vest and headband, to allow scientists on the ground to observe his cardiovascular system while he worked in microgravity.
The research aims to help scientists study the effects of microgravity on the human heart and potentially help create therapies for heart disease.
He also carried out several live calls from the ISS, including with pupils from across the UAE, leaders and space enthusiasts.
Two Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni, came aboard the station in May.
Their arrival increased the Arab population in space to three – a record number.
Dr Al Neyadi's busy schedule on the station also included taking photos of Earth, and he captured a number of striking images of the UAE from space, as well as snapshots of other parts of the world.
He has served in the armed forces as a network security engineer and holds a doctorate in information technology from Griffith University in Australia as well as a bachelor's of science in electronics and communication engineering from the University of Brighton in England.
Dr Al Neyadi is the second Emirati to journey into space, following in the footsteps of Hazza Al Mansouri, who spent eight days on the ISS in 2019.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
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Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
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Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
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A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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