First UAE astronaut assures the world the earth is no flat

The United Arab Emirates’ first astronaut has returned from a space mission assuring the world that the Earth is indeed not flat.

"It is a sphere, I have seen it with my eyes so I can tell you this myself," confirmed Hazza Al Mansouri with a chuckle, addressing conspiracy theorists at a press conference held in Russia upon his return.

Al Mansouri left earth on September 25 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on board a Russian rocket on an expedition to conduct several science experiments on the International Space Station.

When asked what his first words were upon landing back on Earth on October 3, he uttered a joyous "Alhamdullilah [Praise be to God]".

Al Mansouri said his journey to space marked only the beginning of extra-terrestrial space expeditions for the UAE.

"Our message is really to create our own model in our country, in the Arab region, like we saw in Yuri Gagarin [the first man in space]," he said, speaking at the press conference in Moscow. 

He also said he was hopeful for more astronauts from the UAE exploring the galaxy in the future.

"Now my mission is to transfer [my] knowledge and experience from my training in Star City and onboard the station to the next [astronaut] and I hope they will do better than me."