The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center has announced that Hazza Al Mansouri will be the country’s first astronaut. The 34 year old is an F-16 pilot for the UAE Air Force and will be the primary astronaut for a mission to the International Space Station on September 25. Sultan Al Neyadi, a Doctor of Information Technology, will serve as alternate astronaut. The two men were selected last September after a series of tests, ultimately emerging as the final two from an initial pool of 4096 applicants. The pair are currently undergoing training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The mission will be a new milestone for UAE space exploration. Last October the UAE launched KhalifaSat, an entirely Emirati made satellite, and plans the launch of a Mars probe in 2021.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed met with the Nation’s first cohort of female firefighters. The class was trained at both the Civil Defense Academy and Police Academy in Sharjah. Sheikh Mohamed greeted the new firefighters, telling them, "The UAE woman is always proving her worth in performing all the national tasks assigned to her, excelling herself in fulfilling her responsibilities and meeting her obligations."

Khor Fakkan, a Sharjah enclave in Fujairah is now more accessible with a series of tunnels cutting the journey time from Sharjah city from 108 minutes to 45 minutes. The new road is accompanied by a series of restorations of historical forts and monuments and the development of tourist attractions such as a new beach front. These restorations include Al Adwani tower built in the 15th century and a fort from 1940. The city of Khor Fakkan is notable, as it was invaded by Portuguese explorers in 1507 who remained there until 1633.