UAE leaders laud Sultan Al Neyadi as pride of nation

As Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi embarked on his historic mission to space on Thursday, UAE leaders marked the milestone with special messages on social media.

Taking to his official Twitter account, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said Al Neyadi's "inspiring achievement is a source of great pride to the UAE".

"I join the nation in congratulating Sultan Al Neyadi as he begins his pioneering mission aboard the International Space Station," he wrote, adding, "Another milestone in the journey of our nation and the ambitions of our people." 

I join the nation in congratulating Sultan Al Neyadi as he begins his pioneering mission aboard the International Space Station. His inspiring achievement is a source of great pride to the UAE and another milestone in the journey of our nation and the ambitions of our people.

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) March 2, 2023

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also marked the milestone on Twitter.

"Sultan Al Neyadi launched into space today to be the first Arab astronaut on a long-term mission that takes six months to the International Space Station," Sheikh Mohammed wrote.

انطلق ابن الامارات سلطان النيادي تحوطه رعاية الله وعنايته إلى الفضاء اليوم ليكون أول رائد فضاء عربي في مهمة طويلة الأمد تستغرق ستة أشهر لمحطة الفضاء الدولية .. أبناء الإمارات فخر وعز.. أبناء الإمارات يرفعون رؤوسنا في العالم.. ويرسمون لشباب العرب طريق كله أمل وعلم pic.twitter.com/79znTU8SOP

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) March 2, 2023

On Thursday, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, was at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to witness history being made. 

The UAE marks a new milestone in its inspirational journey to go beyond the skies, guided by its visionary leadership. As @HamdanMohammed leads the applause at the @MBRSpaceCentre, the UAE looks forward to new frontiers of space. pic.twitter.com/FXZfyMfMLB

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 2, 2023

.@HamdanMohammed follows the live launch of the longest Arab space mission in history during a visit to @MBRSpaceCentre.@Astro_Alneyadi #UAE2Space pic.twitter.com/IrOnxaKREW

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 2, 2023