| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Other Name(s) | Mohammad AlMulla, Mohammed Al Mulla |
| Profession(s) | Police Officer, Pilot, Astronaut |
| Famous For | Being selected as part of the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 5' 10" (178 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Astronaut Career | |
| Affiliated Space Agency | The United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) |
| Affiliated Space Center | Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre |
| Service Years | April 2021-present |
| Police Career | |
| Emirate Affiliated With | Dubai Police |
| Wing | Dubai Police Aviation |
| Police Medals/Awards | • Bravery Medal from Sheikh Mohammed • Commander-in-Chief Medal for the Best Officer in a Specialised Field • Dubai Police Global Excellence Award |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | Year, 1988 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 37 Years |
| Birthplace | Dubai |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Hometown | Dubai |
| College/University | Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government |
| Educational Qualification | • Master of Public Administration • Bachelor's degree in Law and Economics |
| Religion | Islam |
| Hobbies | Playing Football, Photography, Chess |
| Social Media | • Instagram |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Family | |
| Children | Son(s)- 2 Daughter- None |
| Siblings | He has several brothers and sisters. |
| Favourites | |
| Sport | Chess |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Mohammad Al Mulla
- Mohammad Al Mulla was born into a Muslim business-class family, which has been involved in the pearl business in Dubai.
- Despite being from a business family, Mohammad Al Mulla took a keen interest in aviation and space since his kindergarten years.
- After completing his formal education, Mohammad joined the Dubai Police as an officer.
- After putting in several years of service, he applied for the helicopter wing of the police force, following which he underwent a rigorous aviation training module.
- In 2010, he was accepted into the helicopter wing, as he had previously received his pilot’s license at the age of 19 and had flown numerous civilian aircraft. He obtained commercial pilot’s licenses and trainer licenses from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
- Soon after gaining expertise, Mohammad was chosen among a few pilots to respond to emergencies and carry Dubai Police’s SWAT teams to various locations.
- When he had joined the police force, he was the youngest pilot to serve in the helicopter wing. In an interview, he talked about his experience as a police pilot and said,
In the past 15 years as a helicopter pilot, I’ve been through a lot of emergencies. This is not something new to me – emergencies and procedures. I have the experience in terms of fear. I also have the experience regarding fear control, plus emergencies.”
- In January 2007, he was appointed as the head of the Training Department at the Air Wing Centre of Dubai Police; he was the youngest person to head the department. He served in the post till June 2022. During his time there, Mohammad is said to have led the modernisation of the air wing of the police force and led a team to test and induct new helicopters.
- Thereafter, he served on the Dubai Police Youth Council and the Dubai Police Job Happiness and Satisfaction Council as a member.
- Mohammad Al Mulla has taken part in many initiatives for social causes. He has often called for creating a positive working environment in both, government and the civil sector.
- He decided to join the UAE Astronaut Corps when he met Sultan Al Neyadi and Major Hazza Al Mansoor at the 2019 Dubai Airshow, where he was participating.
Mohammad Al Mulla, in his Dubai Police Aviation uniform, posing for a photo with Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi at the Dubai Airshow
- In 2021, the Government of the UAE announced that it would open vacancies for astronaut candidates, who would undergo training to go to the moon, under the UAE Astronaut Program. Therefore, in the second batch, Mohammad Al Mulla applied.
- According to him, there were over 4,000 applicants for just two positions, many of whom were more qualified and better suited for the roles. He also mentioned that he had not anticipated being selected for the program.
- Following his selection, he was asked to report to the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai, where he underwent basic courses, which included swimming, scuba diving, survival exercises, aviation, and stamina improvement through cardiovascular exercises. They also received classes in the Russian language and used to study it for six hours each day.
Mohammad Al Mulla standing outside the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
- After the completion of his basic training module, the authorities had initially planned to send him to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow Oblast, Russia. However, later, a deal was made between the UAE and the United States of America, and she was sent to train with NASA.
- On 10 April 2021, he was chosen to join the Emirati Astronaut Group 2.
- In 2021, he was selected to attend the astronaut training as part of the NASA Astronaut Group 23 at the Houston-based NASA Johnson Space Center; she had to undergo a 2-hour online aptitude assessment test. There, he underwent a rigorous training module encompassing spacewalking at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, robotics, working on ISS systems, piloting the T-38 jet, and taking advanced Russian language lessons.
Mohammad Al Mulla and his colleague, while training underwater in spacesuits at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston
- Soon after, he reported to Fort Novosel in Alabama, where he underwent a survival training module and took classes to understand Earth’s geology, which would benefit him in experimenting on the moon’s surface.
A photo of Mohammad Al Mulla taken while he was undergoing a survival training module in Alabama
- In 2024, he became a qualified astronaut and received his astronaut wings from NASA and UAESA. The group with which he trained at NASA was codenamed “The Flies.”
A photo of Mohammad Al Mulla taken with his group, which qualified for a manned space exploration mission
- With his qualification, he has become one of the few astronauts eligible to take part in lunar and Mars human exploration missions. He also became one of the first four astronauts to be commissioned into the UAE Astronaut Corps.
Mohammad Al Mulla with all the Emirati Astronauts who have been chosen by the UAE government for manned space missions
- He later worked with the US Navy and learned how to operate the jets they use.
Mohammad Al Mulla in his fighter pilot uniform in the United States of America
- He has often expressed his desire to serve at the Mohammad bin Rashid Space Centre as an astronaut instructor.
- Mohammad is also a qualified parachute diver and has specialised in High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) skills.
- While training in the US, Mohammad claimed that he missed home-cooked food that his mother made.
- He has been playing chess since the early 2000s.
Mohammad Al Mulla playing chess with Nora Al Matrooshi, Sultan Al Neyadi, and Hazza Al Mansoor
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