Trump Meets UAE's Astronaut Crew: A Symbol of US-UAE Space Collaboration

Abu Dhabi: President Donald Trump's visit to the UAE has added another layer of significance with his meeting with four Emirati astronauts at the impressive Qasr Al Watan presidential palace. The encounter, captured on video by The National News, shows Trump engaging in conversations with Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati to journey into space, and Sultan Al Neyadi, who made history as the first Arab to conduct a spacewalk. The president also met with Nora Al Matrooshi, the first Arab woman to graduate from NASA's astronaut program, and her fellow 2024 graduate, Mohammed Al Mulla. Both Al Matrooshi and Al Mulla have expressed their ambitions to one day set foot on the Moon. The video offers a glimpse into the cordial exchange between the president and the astronauts, underscoring the growing cooperation between the US and the UAE in the field of space exploration. The event highlights the UAE's remarkable achievements in the space sector and its aspirations for future lunar missions. This meeting symbolizes the potential for continued collaboration between the two nations on ambitious space endeavors. "It was an honor to meet President Trump," said Al Neyadi in a brief statement released after the event. The meeting underscores the growing importance of international collaboration in space exploration and the UAE's rising prominence in this field.