HE Dr Sultan Al Neyadi is the UAE Minister of Youth, astronaut and the first Arab to serve on the International Space Station (ISS) for a 6-month mission, as part of Expedition 69.

Al Neyadi was inducted into the UAE Cabinet during an announcement made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai in January 2024. He was one of the two astronauts selected in the first batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed forces, in 2017. 

Al Neyadi undertook the longest Arab space mission in history and became the first Arab to conduct a spacewalk during Expedition 69, which lasted 7 hours and 1 minute. During his time of over 4,000 hours aboard the ISS, he spearheaded multiple research experiments and studies in collaboration with NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) on a wide range of topics.

Prior to his mission, Al Neyadi trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Moscow, NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, and the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. The training spanned five years, included over 90 courses, and covered a wide range of emergency procedures, everyday ISS operations, training in the Neutral Buoynacy Laboratory, flight training and survival skills.

Born on May 23, 1981, Al Neyadi followed his father's footsteps into military service. After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Brighton, he served in the UAE Armed Forces as a Network Security Engineer. Al Neyadi later pursued further education, earning a Master’s degree in IT from Griffith University and a Ph.D. in Information Technology. A jiu-jitsu practitioner, Al Neyadi integrated his martial arts discipline into his space mission, becoming the first person to wear a jiu-jitsu gi on the ISS.

Space Scientist and Geologist

As CEO and Board Member of Pyramedia Group, Dr Nashwa Al Ruwaini oversees a diverse group of companies that provide a wide range of services in media production and consulting, marketing, public relations, financial investments, medical, and manufacturing.

Dr Al Ruwaini has over 20 years of experience in the media industry and has worked on a number of award-winning and innovative projects, including Million's Poet, Prince of Poets, the Middle East Film Festival, and the Middle East EMMY Awards. She has also consulted and cast for several Hollywood productions, as well as helped MBC establish itself as a regional media powerhouse.

She has an MSc and MPhil in Political Science and Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, as well as a certificate in Real Estate Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Dr Nashwa is dedicated to assisting women, children, and the disabled throughout the MENA region through her Nashwa Charity Foundation, and she also founded Nashwa Jewellery, a luxury brand reflecting her Egyptian heritage and artistic vision.

Forbes Magazine named her one of the Top 100 Powerful Arab Businesswomen in 2017, and she remains committed to excellence and innovation in her field.