UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi returned to the UAE yesterday after the success of Al Mansouri's trip to the International Space Station, raising the nation's name high in the sky of scientific achievements and fulfilling the dream of the founding father of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Hugging space.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received the two astronauts upon their arrival at the Presidential Airport, returning from Russia, in appreciation of the UAE leadership and pride in the sons of the UAE who contribute to its glory and build its glory among nations.

Accompanied by Hazza and his colleague Al-Neyadi, a delegation from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center and members of the team who followed the mission returned from the Space Station Control Center of the Russian Space Agency.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated Hazza Al Mansouri on the safe return of his successful and successful trip to the International Space Station, praising the high spirit, great vigor and willpower shown by him during all stages of this journey, which contributed to convey a good image of the UAE and its people To the whole world, its leadership and the strength of its will is confirmed to participate in the march of human progress.

His Highness praised Sultan Al-Neyadi and his enthusiasm and sincerity in supporting his brother Hazza before and during the trip, stressing that working in a team spirit is the basis of success and excellence.

His Highness expressed his thanks and appreciation to all the members of the UAE team, who contributed to the journey to the International Space Station, and helped to make it successful and achieve the desired objectives, from engineers, technicians and others, because they all worked in one spirit for one goal, to raise the name of the UAE high in the international arena.

Addressing His Highness Hazza and Sultan, he said: “You are two examples of the youth we are proud of. "Yes to the emirate's progress and progress."

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan added that the UAE, when developing its space program, insisted from the outset that the implementation of this project should be in the hands of its people and minds, and therefore worked hard to prepare qualified and trained national cadres in this field, because its aim is to participate actively In space exploration and real engagement in its science and knowledge, being part of its quest for sustainable development and building a knowledge-based economy.

His Highness stressed that the UAE views its children since the time of the late founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, that they are their real wealth, and that investing in them is the best investment for the present and the future, pointing out that Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi and their brothers working in the program His Highness Al Mansouri, Al Neyadi and their colleagues in the UAE Space Program have called for perseverance and continued work, effort and diligence during the coming period, because the road is still long, and the UAE's ambitions in this regard. The space area is large, and mainly depends on its children in achieving them.

His Highness expressed his confidence that the people of the country are able to succeed in the challenge they face in this area, stressing that what Hazza and Sultan have done proves that the UAE's bet on its children is a winning bet.

For their part, Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the generous gesture of His Highness to receive them at the airport, stressing that this reception is their greatest honor, and that this gesture is not alien to His Highness, who believes in the youth of the country and their abilities and encourages them always To break into the fields of technology and modern science, and to compete with developed countries in these fields.

They also expressed their appreciation for the great interest of the UAE leadership during all stages of the journey, which motivated them and all members of the UAE team supervising them, for more dedication and effort and work to achieve the aspirations of leadership for a bright future for our dear homeland.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, said: “During the moments when we set foot on the homeland, we felt unparalleled pride. It is true that we always have a sense of pride in what the UAE's first astronaut has achieved, but the moments of our arrival at home. We see the happiness and pride of the people of the UAE for the arrival of the first Emirati in space, and the realization of the dream of the late father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, and the vision of our wise leadership. That look forward to the future and always emphasize that the word impossible is not Grandfather in the Dictionary of the United Arab Emirates. »

He added that Hazza's new success story was added to the achievements of the UAE and became an inspiring model for the youth of the UAE and new generations in the entire Arab world, while Hazza's mission to the International Space Station is a first step from which the UAE launches exploratory missions in outer space. For knowledge and science.

Yousef Al Shaibani, Director General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, said that the mission of the first Emirati astronaut to the International Space Station included a tremendous effort by a national team in the operating room of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai; In Moscow, the NASA Earth Station in Houston, the JAXA Earth Station in Japan, the scientific team that planned educational activities during this mission, and worked with international bodies to determine the scientific experiments Hazza will be doing on board.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi:

"The UAE views its children as its real wealth, and investing in them is the best investment for the present and future."

"The staff of the Emirates Space Program are laying the strong foundations for us to achieve our ambitions, and to reach Mars.

"The road is still long and the UAE's space ambitions are great. It depends mainly on its people to achieve them."