I feel fortunate to have been living in the UAE at the moment. Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has reached the International Space station (ISS) and has already spent a few days there. Everybody is talking about him and his achievement. We all are keeping an eye on his day-to-day activities at the ISS. We, the people of UAE, feel proud at this extraordinary landmark. Al Neyadi, the first Arab to go on a long-duration space mission, will spend six months aboard the ISS conducting various experiments. I am happy to see many school-going kids talking about Sultan Al Neyadi’s journey to space.

Lots of UAE children are eagerly following ISS updates through newspapers and television. Sultan Al Neyadi has managed to inspire a generation with his extraordinary achievement. Children will feel inspired to take interest in scientific knowledge and research. We pray for his successful journey, and we owe a lot of thanks to him for inspiring young minds.  UAE students were on cloud nine on Tuesday, when Al Neyadi interacted with students of Jumeirah College Dubai from ISS. He replied to a few questions posed by a few students and it was indeed a moment of great pride for curious students. He also shared his experience with them.  I am sure this moment is going to be in the mind of curious students for a very long time.

Faizi Haider,
By email