Two leading ministers highlighted the impact of lifelong education on the UAE's remarkable success – epitomised by a landmark journey to Mars.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, told how knowledge can fuel the nation's development during the final Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Ramadan Majlis of the year.
His support of learning was echoed by Sarah Al Amiri, the Minister of State for Advanced Technology and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, who told how a desire for greater understanding was key to the historic mission to the Red Planet.
The UAE became the first Arab country to send a spacecraft into Mars' orbit earlier this year.
The success of the Hope probe was built on years of hard work by a burgeoning space sector.
“There is no doubt that education nowadays is not only an essential requirement to finding a job, or gaining a certain skill, but it is essential to having a vibrant life that contributes to boosting our motivations," said Sheikh Abdullah during the talk, entitled ‘Lifelong Learning: Unlocking our Future Potential.
"It increases our understanding of each other, our understanding of society, and also increases our passion for knowledge.”
Ms Al Amiri spoke of the huge strides taken by the Emirates Mars Mission in order to achieve its lofty goal.
“We started our work as a small team at the Emirates Mars Mission. A very small team, especially at the beginning of the project at the end of 2013," she said.
"It was just an idea; how could the UAE reach Mars? As the years went by, with the approach we followed to develop this outer space exploration mission, which was a unique approach compared to any previous space missions – whether to Mars or any other planet in our solar system –we faced considerable challenges.
“However, these challenges were an unrivalled opportunity to learn. No matter how hard it got, or how hard it was to find a solution for the challenges we faced, whether they were technical or administrative challenges in the project, we realised after we successfully overcame these challenges what we had learned from them.
"The lessons we had learnt from them, and the experience we had gained from them, were invaluable."
Professor John Sexton, President Emeritus of New York University Abu Dhabi, praised the UAE's commitment to education.
“Each student is a wonderful gift of creation and he or she has capacities that have to be brought out by education,” he said.
“I applaud the fact that the UAE and Abu Dhabi have focused on the importance of lifelong learning, because lifelong learning is really the actuation of the gift of life. And it creates for us a beautiful symphony, created by all the piano notes we come to play.”
UAE's history-making Mars mission
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Engineers assemble the Hope Probe. Courtesy MBR Space Centre / Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Dubai Crown Prince, visit the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Space Centre. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, sign a piece of the Hope Probe, which will be launched to Mars in July, at Qasr Al Watan. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - January 05, 2020: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (front row 3rd R) and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence (front row 4th R), stand for a photograph after signing a piece of the Hope Probe, which will be launched to Mars in July, at Qasr Al Watan. Seen with HH Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior (front row 2nd R), HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs (front row 5th R), HE Sarah Yousif Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Advanced Sciences (front row 6th R) and HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (front row 7th R). ( Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs ) --- -
The UAE's mission to Mars, the Hope Probe. -
A plaque featuring the UAE's new Nation Brand, a logo featuring seven lines representing the leaders of the seven Emirates who agreed to unite the country under one flag, has been attached to the Hope Probe, due to blast off for Mars in the summer. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, witness the installation of the final piece of the Hope Probe. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office Twitter -
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the Hope Probe is a testament to the capabilities of the youth of the UAE. The project, which represents a historic achievement for the nation, also sends a message of hope to youth in the Arab world. Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he was ceremonially handed the last component of the Hope Probe during an event held to mark its installation. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre also attended the event. Wam -
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the Hope Probe is a testament to the capabilities of the youth of the UAE. The project, which represents a historic achievement for the nation, also sends a message of hope to youth in the Arab world. Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he was ceremonially handed the last component of the Hope Probe during an event held to mark its installation. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre also attended the event. Wam -
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the Hope Probe is a testament to the capabilities of the youth of the UAE. The project, which represents a historic achievement for the nation, also sends a message of hope to youth in the Arab world. Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he was ceremonially handed the last component of the Hope Probe during an event held to mark its installation. In photo is Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre also attended the event. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed was briefed by the Hope Probe team at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre headquarters about the final technical and logistical preparations and testing procedures ahead of the Hope Probe’s launch in July. Wam -
The H-IIA (F42) launch vehicle at the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan is being prepared for the launch. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
The Hope probe will launch on July 15 at 12.51am. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission -
Final preparations are under way at the launch site for the UAE Mars Mission in Japan's Tanegashima Island. The Hope probe was placed inside this payload fairing last week and was transferred to building where the rocket is kept. Courtesy: Shoma Watanbe -
Rocket carrying Hope probe to space has arrived at launch pad in Tanegashima island, Japan. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita -
People watch a big screen displaying the launch of the Hope Probe from Tanegashima Island in Japan, at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates July 20, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah -
In this handout photograph taken and released on July 20, 2020 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries an H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe known as "Al-Amal" in Arabic, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore Mars, blasts off from Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan. The first Arab space mission to Mars blasted off on July 20 aboard a rocket from Japan, with the probe dubbed "Hope" successfully separating about an hour after liftoff. - --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / (MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES)" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS --- / AFP / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Handout / --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / (MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES)" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS --- -
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 20 JULY 2020. Post launch briefing of the Hope Probe to Mars at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center. LtoR: Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, the Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises and Omran Sharaf, Project Manager of Emirates Mars Mission, Hope Probe (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: Sarwat. Section: National. -
Zakareyya Al Shamshi, deputy manager of Mission Operation, at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre headquarters in Al Khawaneej. Antonie Robertson / The National -
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 27 JULY 2020. MBRSC headquarters in Al Khawaneej. One week today since the Hope probe launched to Mars. LtoR: Mohammed Alblooshi, Flight Controller and Hamad Alhazami, Command and Control operator. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: Sarwat Nasir. Section: National. -
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 27 JULY 2020. MBRSC headquarters in Al Khawaneej. One week today since the Hope probe launched to Mars. LtoR: Mohammed Alblooshi, Flight Controller and Hamad Alhazami, Command and Control operator. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: Sarwat Nasir. Section: National. -
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - July 31, 2020: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces front (front row 5th L), HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence (front row 4th L) and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai (front row 3rd L), stand for a photograph with the Hope Probe team, during an honoring ceremony, at Qasr Al Watan. ( Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs ) --- -
An image beamed back from the UAE's Hope Probe showing Saturn and Jupiter growing ever closer last month. Courtesy: Hope Probe / MBR Space Centre -
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, briefs Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on the Hope probe mission. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter -
epa08989888 The under-construction Museum of The Future is illuminated in red as the color of Mars in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 05 February 2021. Landmarks in the UAE are lit up in red in support to the Hope Probe reaching to Mars orbit on 09 February 2021. The Emirates Mars Mission Hope Probe is the first planetary mission led by an Arab-Islamic country and the space probe is to study the Martian atmosphere. EPA/ALI HAIDER -
Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, at an event to mark Hope Probe's entering the orbit of Mars, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 9. Reuters
