Famous Emiratis
The founders
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan | Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1966; first President of the UAE | 1918 to 2004 |
| Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum | Ruler of Dubai from 1958; Vice-President from 1971 and Prime Minister from 1979 | 1912 to 1990 |
Source: UAE Government Portal: Founders of the Union1
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the second President, from 2004 until 13 May 2022. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been President since 14 May 2022, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.2,8
Astronauts
| Astronaut | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Hazzaa AlMansoori | Launched on 25 September 2019 on Zayed Ambition 1, the UAE's first scientific mission to the ISS, and ran 31 experiments |
| Sultan AlNeyadi | Six months on the ISS from 2 March 2023 on Expedition 69, the first long-duration mission by an Arab astronaut, with a spacewalk of 7 hours 1 minute |
| Nora AlMatrooshi | Selected in 2021 as the first Emirati and Arab woman astronaut, from more than 4,000 applicants; graduated from NASA's astronaut class in 2024 |
| Mohammad AlMulla | Second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme; graduated from NASA's astronaut candidate class |
Source: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre: Missions and projects; Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre: Nora AlMatrooshi; Emirates News Agency (WAM): FOCP brings together Emirati astronauts3,4,5
The Mars mission
The Hope Probe entered Mars orbit on 9 February 2021 after a journey of more than 493 million km over seven months, the first Arab interplanetary mission. Sarah Al Amiri, then Minister of State for Advanced Technology, was named on Time's 2021 Next 100 list for steering the probe into Mars orbit.6,7
Sport
Sheikh Ahmed bin Hasher Al Maktoum won the double trap at the Athens 2004 Olympics, the UAE's first Olympic medal of any colour. He hit an Olympic record 144 of 150 targets in qualifying and finished on 189.10,9
We add names to this page only when an official source documents what the person did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first Emirati astronaut on the ISS?
Hazzaa AlMansoori, who launched to the International Space Station on 25 September 2019 on the Zayed Ambition 1 mission.
Who won the UAE's first Olympic medal?
Sheikh Ahmed bin Hasher Al Maktoum, with gold in the double trap shooting at Athens 2004.
The people, one by one
Founders of the Union
Sheikh Zayed
First President of the UAE, 1971 to 2004.
1971 Elected first President of the UAE
Read moreSheikh Rashid
Ruler of Dubai, 1958 to 1990; first Vice-President.
1958 Became Ruler of Dubai
Read moreSheikh Khalid Al Qasimi
Ruler of Sharjah, 1965 to 1972.
1965 Became Ruler of Sharjah
Read moreSheikh Rashid Al Nuaimi
Ruler of Ajman from 1928; a founder of the Union.
54 years As Ruler of Ajman
Read moreSheikh Ahmed Al Mualla
Ruler of Umm Al Quwain from 1929; a founder of the Union.
1929 Became Ruler of Umm Al Quwain
Read moreSheikh Saqr Al Qasimi
Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah from 1948; joined the Union in 1972.
1948 Became Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah
Read moreSheikh Mohammed Al Sharqi
Ruler of Fujairah, about 1937 to 1974.
1952 Britain recognises Fujairah
Read more
Presidents and leaders
Sheikh Khalifa
Second President of the UAE, 2004 to 2022.
2004 Became President of the UAE
Read moreSheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
President of the UAE since 2022.
2022 Became President of the UAE
Read moreSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai since 2006.
1971 Became Minister of Defence
Read moreSheikh Maktoum bin Rashid
First Prime Minister, 1971; Ruler of Dubai, 1990 to 2006.
1971 Led the first UAE Cabinet
Read moreSheikha Fatima bint Mubarak
Mother of the Nation; chair of the General Women's Union since 1975.
1975 General Women's Union founded
Read moreSheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi
Ruler of Sharjah since 1972; historian and author.
1972 Became Ruler of Sharjah
Read more
Space and science
Hazzaa AlMansoori
First Emirati in space, 2019.
2019 Launch to the ISS
Read moreSultan AlNeyadi
Six months on the ISS, 2023; Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
6 months On the ISS, 2023
Read moreNora AlMatrooshi
First Emirati and Arab woman astronaut, 2021.
2021 Selected as an astronaut
Read moreMohammad AlMulla
Dubai Police pilot; astronaut since 2024.
2021 Selected as an astronaut
Read moreSarah Al Amiri
Led the Hope Probe's science; Minister of Education since 2024.
2021 Hope Probe enters Mars orbit
Read moreOmran Sharaf
Project director of the Hope Probe mission to Mars.
2021 Hope Probe enters Mars orbit
Read more
Poetry and letters
Ahmed bin Majid
Navigator of Julfar, 15th century; author of navigation poems.
24 Navigation poems that survive, of 41 known
Read moreAl Majidi bin Dhaher
Nabati poet of the 16th century, buried in Ras Al Khaimah.
16th Century in which he lived
Read moreMubarak Al Oqaili
Poet in classical Arabic and Nabati; his Deira house is a museum.
1923 His house in Deira was built
Read moreOusha Al Suwaidi
Nabati poet from Al Ain, known as Fatat Al Arab.
1989 Named Fatat Al Arab
Read moreMohammed Al Murr
Writer of 12 short story collections; cultural institution builder.
12 Short story collections
Read more
Visual arts
Hassan Sharif
Conceptual artist; founder of the Emirates Fine Arts Society.
8 Sharjah Biennials featuring his work since 1993
Read moreAbdul Qader Al Rais
Painter of Emirati architecture; abstraction with Arabic letters.
AED 1m Bishra, Christie's Dubai, 2008
Read moreNajat Makki
Painter and sculptor; PhD in philosophy of art, 2001.
1977 Government scholarship to study art
Read moreMohamed Ahmed Ibrahim
Represented the UAE at the Venice Biennale, 2022.
128 Forms in the Venice installation
Read moreAbdullah Al Saadi
Represented the UAE at the Venice Biennale, 2024.
2024 Solo show for the UAE in Venice
Read more
Sport
Sheikh Ahmed bin Hasher
Olympic gold in double trap, Athens 2004.
2004 Olympic gold, Athens
Read moreAhmed Khalil
AFC Player of the Year 2015.
2015 AFC Player of the Year
Read moreOmar Abdulrahman
AFC Player of the Year 2016.
2016 AFC Player of the Year
Read moreAli Mabkhout
All-time top scorer for the UAE since 2019.
14 sec Fastest goal in Asian Cup history
Read moreSergiu Toma
Olympic judo bronze, Rio 2016.
2016 Olympic bronze, Rio
Read moreSheikha Maitha bint Mohammed
Karate champion; UAE flag bearer at Beijing 2008.
2008 Flag bearer, Beijing Olympics
Read more
Sources
- UAE Government Portal: Founders of the Union
- UAE Government Portal: Fact sheet
- Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre: Missions and projects
- Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre: Nora AlMatrooshi
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): FOCP brings together Emirati astronauts
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): UAE receives Hope Probe's first image of Mars (14 February 2021)
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): Sarah Al Amiri named in Time's 2021 Next 100 list
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): Mohammed bin Rashid speaks with Sultan AlNeyadi (7 March 2023)
- Olympics.com: Shaikh Ahmed Almaktoum
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): UAE Shooting Federation dedicates Olympic medal (17 August 2004)
Facts checked 21 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information.