The first Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori received a royal homecoming as he returned to the UAE after his successful trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, personally welcomed and received Hazzaa and his mission’s backup astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.
The group landed at the Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi.
To honor the homecoming of the first UAE astronaut, military planes painted the skies with the colors of the UAE flag.
Hazzaa came out of the plane in an astronaut blue jumpsuit with the UAE flag around his neck.
He was greeted with cheers from the crowd, including his children.
Hazzaa was embraced by Sheikh Mohammed. He presented to the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince with the UAE flag he had taken to space.
Artists also welcomed Hazzaa with traditional folk music and dance for the two astronauts.
