First Arab Woman in Space Recognized by Guinness World Records

Rayyanah Barnaw made history as the first female Arab astronaut, as recognized by Guinness World Records.

Barnaw was part of Axiom Mission 2, which launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 21st, 2023, alongside fellow Saudi astronaut Ali Al-Qarni.

“This trip does not represent me alone, but rather the entire Arab world and all Saudis,” Barnawi said in her first message from space. “We are living a dream that once seemed impossible but has become reality.”

After an eight-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS), Barnawi and Al-Qarni returned on May 31st, during which they conducted 14 research projects on microgravity. This included kite experiments involving 12,000 school students from 47 locations across Saudi Arabia.

Barnawi's mission was a part of the Saudi Astronaut Program, where she executed groundbreaking experiments focused on immune cells and the effects of microgravity on biological processes. With a strong background in scientific research, Barnawi holds a bachelor’s degree in genetic engineering from the University of Otago and a master’s in biomedical sciences from Alfaisal University.