Today's Edition
Ameinah Alzeyoudi (ABU DHABI)
UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi’s accomplishments have transcended national boundaries, transforming him into a global sensation. Media agencies worldwide have actively covered the spacewalker’s triumphant return and groundbreaking scientific achievements in a variety of languages.
AlNeyadi’s involvement in a multitude of scientific experiments and his participation in research activities conducted within the unique microgravity environment of space have not only captivated audiences in the Middle East but have also resonated around the globe, underscoring the universal appeal of space exploration.
Covering AlNeyadi’s return to the UAE, CNN Arabic ran a story highlighting the astronaut’s reception by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The CNN story showcased the astronaut’s reception after his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport, during which AlNeyadi presented the UAE flag he carried with him into space to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
“The UAE Astronaut returns home”, The UAE branch of Bilbao-based newspaper El Correo, El Correo del Golfo, shared. El Correo covered AlNeyadi’s return for a Spanish-speaking audience, highlighting the historic nature of AlNeyadi’s mission as the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk. The Spanish newspaper reported that the astronaut expressed his happiness at returning to his homeland, covering AlNeyadi’s post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which read: “After returning to Earth, it is time to return home… we will see each other at Dar Zayed.”
The astronaut’s achievements also made waves in the Francophone world through coverage by French news outlet Le Petit Journal, under the headline “Astronaut AlNeyadi welcomed as a hero in Abu Dhabi”. Showcasing his grand reception, the article reads, “Emirati astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi landed in Abu Dhabi on Monday to a hero’s welcome after a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.”
“History-making UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi returns home”, read the headline of Japanese-language newspaper, Arab News Japan’s, article on the astronaut. The article spoke of AlNeyadi’s excitement to return to the UAE, which he displayed in another post on X. “From the start of five years of mission preparation to over 180 days in space, it has been a unique experience. Now that we have returned to Earth, it is time to go home. I look forward to meeting you,” AlNeyadi posted on Monday, as reported by Arab News Japan.
South Korean news outlet Nate covered the return with a focus on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s reception of the astronaut at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The successful completion of the mission likewise gained media traction from Arabic-language outlets, with National Geographic Arabic publishing an in-depth report on the nature of the scientific research, experiments, and public outreach campaigns AlNeyaid conducted during his time aboard the ISS. According to the National Geographic report, AlNeyadi completed 4,000 work hours in space, conducing 200 scientific experiments which took a total of around 585 hours.
Sky News Arabic also reported on some of the finer details of AlNeyadi’s mission, explaining that some of the experiments conducted aboard the ISS included investigating the effects of microgravity on the combustion of materials to enhance the safety of spacecraft, testing new tools to measure human immune responses in space, and conducting research on 3D-printed heart muscle tissue to evaluate human heart functionality in microgravity.
In English, Arabian Business highlighted the hero’s return and reception, quoting President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed as saying that the people of the UAE are united in pride for the remarkable achievement.
The Siasat Daily, an Indian newspaper headquartered in Hyderabad, covered the emirate’s broader response to AlNeyadi’s landing under the headline “Watch: Abu Dhabi’s iconic landmarks light up for UAE astronaut’s homecoming”. The article shared a video featuring Mubadala Tower, the Adnoc building, Khalifa University campus entrance, and Marina Mall’s observation tower with custom lights and graphics lit in honour of AlNeyadi as Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the world celebrated his victorius homecoming.
