Muscat – Startup Grind Muscat hosted Egypt’s Sara Sabry, the first Arab and African woman astronaut, for an exclusive fireside chat that offered rare insights into space exploration, innovation and leadership. The discussion, held as part of World Space Week, explored the intersection of science, technology and entrepreneurship, highlighting Oman’s growing engagement with the global space and technology sectors.

Moderated by Startup Grind Muscat Co-Director Laura Cretney, the session drew students, entrepreneurs and professionals eager to hear from Sara about her path from engineering to spaceflight. She also took part in a workshop that focused on collaboration in space research, biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

Sara made history in 2022 as the first Egyptian, Arab and African woman to travel into space, reaching an altitude of 107km above sea level, as part of Blue Origin’s NS-22 mission. She is also the founder and chair of the Deep Space Initiative, a non-profit organisation working to make space research more accessible and to promote international cooperation in deep space exploration.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Sara recalled the moment she saw Earth from space. “It is always beautiful from above. It is calm and gorgeous,” she said. Selected from over 4,000 applicants for the world’s first Citizen Astronaut Programme by Space for Humanity, she described the experience as transformative. “Looking down at Earth, you realise how fragile and interconnected everything is. That moment changed how I see my work, my responsibility and my place in the world.”

Sara said her journey from mechanical and biomedical engineering to space entrepreneurship was shaped by persistence and vision. “My path was never straightforward. But every step taught me that resilience and purpose can take you further than you imagine,” she said. “It’s time for space to be diverse and inclusive. My mission is to help more astronauts emerge from Africa. Our voices and talents deserve to be heard.”

As the founder and CEO of KORA TechLabs, Sara has been developing AI-driven biomedical technologies for human health in extreme environments. She explained that such innovations are designed not only for future space missions but also for communities on Earth with limited access to healthcare. “Space technology should benefit everyone, not just astronauts,” she said. “The solutions we create for space can improve healthcare for those who need it most.”

Sara’s visit to Muscat reflected the growing interest among Omani entrepreneurs and researchers in emerging fields such as space science, AI and biotechnology. Her story, rooted in determination and inclusivity, underscores how scientific exploration can inspire future generations and bridge global divides through shared discovery.