UAE catapults into a new era of innovation, conquest of space

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Deputy Business Editor

The UAE became first Arab country and fifth in the world to reach the Mars after the Hope Probe successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit on Tuesday.

Dr Raja Al Gurg, President of the Dubai Business Women’s Council (DBWC) told Gulf Today that the UAE’s successful mission to the Red Planet marks a new dawn in the Emirati and Arab space exploration journey and represents a catalyst to the creative abilities of the UAE and Arabs peoples.

Al Gurg said the UAE’s unprecedented achievement will pave the way for Emiratis and Arabs to strongly enter the world of innovation, scientific discovery and space exploration.

She extended her warmest congratulations to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, on the historic achievement, which will be a new beginning for further exceptional achievements, that would keep the UAE’s name attached to every global discovery made through this project.

“The “Hope Probe” mission will undoubtedly support the UAE’s knowledge-based economy and will contribute to boosting its business environment and its sustainable development. In addition to attracting foreign investments, the mission will also help enhance the country’s competitive capabilities across various economic sectors, especially in innovation, technology and advanced scientific fields, something which will strengthen the UAE’s global reputation and position in the space industry among other vital fields,” Al Gurg added.

Dr Hamad Al Al-Ghaferi, Director-General, National Rehabilitation Centre, said: After awaiting in anticipation for more than six months, yesterday was not a mere moment of success or a fleeting sense of pride and achievement. Yesterday’s milestone of historical significance - entering the Red Planet’s orbit, is a result of a nation’s ambitious journey for discovery dating back decades…all the way back to its founding.

Lal Bhatia, Chairman, Hilshaw Group, said: Besides being an active contributor to the global scientific community, the UAE has sent a clear message of its resilience to the world through the commitment and dedication that was invested to make its mission to Mars a success. Hope is a victory for the country and a massive inspiration for future generations to think and act bigger.

The success of this mission is the result of the bold vision of the Nation’s beloved Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, who first supported ambitions for space exploration in 1976. The Father of the Nation and its leaders time and again prove; “hard to imagine is not impossible to do”. It is incredibly significant that this mission became successful in the same year as UAE’s 50th anniversary.

UAE’s mission to Mars has another key objective to offer the global science community new and useful insights about Mars and to further our understanding of how and why Mars is uninhabitable for humans — why its atmosphere wouldn’t protect us the same way our atmosphere does on Earth.

Nidal Abou-Ltaif, President, Avaya International, stated that  the successful entry of the Hope Probe into the Mars orbit is a momentous triumph for not only the UAE but is a source of pride for all of us here in the Arab World.

“It reaffirms the role that Arab ingenuity has historically played towards human progress. This achievement underscores that the application of technology for the greater good of the human race is a constant mission.”

Arda Cenk Tokbas, Managing Director, Pinar Arabia, said:  “We congratulate the UAE and its people on this historic achievement as Hope Probe enters Mars, a true testament to the UAE’s leading innovation and discovery universally.”  

Alaa Youssef, Managing Director, Middle East & Africa at SAS, said: “We offer our congratulations to the esteemed leadership of the UAE on this historic achievement, the Hope Probe mission is truly a testament to the nation’s constant efforts to reaching new heights. Again and again, the UAE proves that it is a hub for all history-in-the-making activities and this Mars Mission cements the nation’s position at the forefront of exploration and discovery worldwide.”

 Umair Nizami, Group CEO for NAS Neuron, said:  “We extend our sincere congratulations to the esteemed leadership of the UAE on this historic achievement as Hope Probe enters Mars. Once again, the UAE is at the forefront of exploration and discovery globally.”

Bilal Moti MRICS, Managing Director of Windmills Real Estate Valuation Services, said that it is an astonishing achievement. This is a day of celebration for the leadership, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, all citizens and the residents of UAE. Congratulations.

“It will be remembered as a revolutionary day in the history of scientific research and development of the entire region, as UAE is the first Arab country that has accomplished its farthest space research journey.” Bilal concluded.