H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi

H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi

H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi is a trailblazing astronaut and the UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs. He made history as the first Arab to participate in a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during Expedition 69. The longest Arab space mission in history included his unprecedented achievement as the first Arab to conduct a spacewalk, which lasted 7 hours and 1 minute.

Education

Dr. AlNeyadi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Brighton in the UK. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Information Technology from Griffith University in Australia, followed by a Ph.D. in Information Technology.

Experience

Dr. AlNeyadi began his professional career in the UAE Armed Forces, specialising in network security engineering. In 2017, he was selected as one of the first astronauts under the UAE Astronaut Programme, alongside Hazzaa AlMansoori. Launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the programme marked a significant step in the UAE’s space ambitions. His appointment to the UAE Cabinet in January 2024 further demonstrated his leadership and contributions to national progress.

Missions and Training

Dr. AlNeyadi underwent extensive training over five years at leading space centres, including the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Moscow, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, and the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. His training involved more than 4,000 hours and over 90 courses, covering ISS operations, emergency procedures, survival techniques, and advanced flight simulations. During Zayed Ambition 1, Dr. AlNeyadi served as the backup for Hazzaa AlMansoori, the UAE’s first astronaut to visit the ISS. As part of Zayed Ambition 2, the longest Arab space mission in history, he conducted extensive research aboard the ISS during Expedition 69, collaborating with international space agencies such as NASA, ESA, CSA, JAXA, and CNES. His mission included contributions to scientific advancements, outreach programs like ‘A Call from Space,’ and student engagement through challenges such as the UAE Zero Robotics Programming Challenge and the Kibo Robot Programming Challenge. Known for his passion for jiu-jitsu, Dr. AlNeyadi also became the first person to wear a jiu-jitsu gi and practice the martial art aboard the ISS, combining his scientific endeavours with his personal interests.

Historic Milestones

Dr. AlNeyadi’s six-month mission during Expedition 69 was a landmark achievement, making him the first Arab to undertake such a prolonged mission aboard the ISS. His spacewalk of 7 hours and 1 minute added another historic milestone, symbolising the UAE’s growing presence in global space exploration.

Meet the Astronauts
Skip to content