The United Arab Emirates (UAE), partnering with Russia, has decided to send its astronaut to space by 2019, making him the first Emirati to go to space.

UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced on social media site Twitter about the historic agreement to send an Emirati to the International Space Station (ISS), saying that it was a sign the country’s space program was bearing fruit.

“Our vision to develop the national space sector is being realized with the development of a spacecraft, the construction of our first local satellite manufacturing facility, the training being given to Emirati astronauts, and the launch of a comprehensive scientific and research program.”

As per Gulf Business, Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) informed that the agreement was reached with the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos and would include the selection and training of the first Emirati astronaut from next month.

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The astronaut will depart on Russian Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft to the ISS next year in April for a 10 day space trip. Sheikh Mohammad said that the astronauts will be selected from a shortlist of 75 men and 20 women aged between 23 and 48.

Further testing will end with the selection of four top candidates and two reserves, containing the first UAE Astronaut Corps. The selected candidates would have to learn Russian and skills in robotics, navigation and medical aid. One of the candidates will make a trip of the ISS and the rest will follow.

Chairman of MBRSC, Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri said, “The selected astronauts will participate in scientific research programs that will serve humanity and help develop the UAE space sector in the future.”

With this partnership, the astronaut will be the first Emirati to visit the space station from the Middle Eastern nation. The UAE also plans to send a probe to Mars in 2020 which will be Arab world’s first mission to another planet.