Abu Dhabi, Shawwal 06, 1439, June 20, 2018, SPA – The United Arab Emirates and Russia here today signed a cooperation agreement to send the first UAE astronaut to participate in scientific research in a Russian space mission to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz MS spacecraft. UAE Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that sending the first UAE astronaut to space is a historic step towards the beginning of a new phase in which the Emirates vision of space will be completed. --SPA 19:58 LOCAL TIME 16:58 GMT 0021 www.spa.gov.sa/w705810