هزاع المنصوري
Hazzaa Al Mansoori
First Emirati Astronaut
Early Life & Education
Hazzaa Al Mansoori was born in 1981 in Abu Dhabi and grew up with a deep fascination for flight and aviation. He joined the UAE Air Force and trained as a fighter pilot, accumulating extensive hours on F-16 and Mirage 2000 aircraft. His exceptional skills and dedication made him one of the UAE's top military pilots before he was selected for the historic astronaut programme in 2017.
Life & Achievements
Hazzaa Al Mansoori was born in 1981 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, into a family with roots in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. From an early age he was fascinated by aviation, eventually joining the UAE Air Force where he became an accomplished fighter pilot with thousands of flight hours on advanced jet aircraft including the F-16 and Mirage 2000. His exceptional performance and physical fitness made him an ideal candidate when the UAE launched its astronaut programme.
In 2017, the UAE announced the selection of its first astronaut corps as part of the broader Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre initiative. Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi were chosen from a pool of thousands of applicants. Hazzaa then underwent rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia, mastering the Soyuz spacecraft systems and the operational procedures of the International Space Station.
On 25 September 2019, Hazzaa Al Mansoori launched aboard Soyuz MS-15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, making history as the first Emirati and the first Arab astronaut from the Gulf to reach the International Space Station. He spent eight days aboard the ISS, conducting scientific experiments, communicating with Emirati students, and carrying symbols of Emirati and Arab identity into orbit.
His mission was more than a technical achievement — it was a signal to the Arab world that space exploration was within reach. He returned to Earth on 3 October 2019 and was welcomed as a national hero. He has since become an ambassador for science education and space ambition across the UAE and the wider Arab region, inspiring millions of young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Key Discoveries & Contributions
- First Emirati spaceflight — nine days aboard the International Space Station in 2019
- Conducted microgravity experiments relevant to Arab and Emirati scientific interests
- Demonstrated physiological adaptability of Arab astronauts in the space environment
- Pioneered the UAE human spaceflight programme as its first representative in orbit
Notable Works
- "Mission log and scientific reports from Soyuz MS-15 / ISS Expedition 61"
- "Hazzaa: The Astronaut (biographical account for young readers)"
- "Public engagement programmes at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre"
Famous Quotes
""I carried the UAE flag to space, but I also carried the dreams of every Arab child who looks up at the stars.""
Life Lesson
Disciplined preparation and national ambition together can carry a person — and a people — to the stars.
Legacy
Hazzaa Al Mansoori opened the era of Arab human spaceflight, proving that Gulf nations can be active participants in humanity's expansion beyond Earth.