UAE leaders on 2020: a challenging year that highlighted the country's strength

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reflect on key achievements for the Emirates during a turbulent 12 months

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. (Photo by Handout / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / AFP) / --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / (MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES)" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ---Show less

President Sheikh Khalifa congratulated the leaders of all "friendly countries" worldwide ahead of the New Year on Thursday. He wished them good health and more progress and prosperity to their people.

The country's leaders reflected on a year of exacting challenges and landmark achievements for the UAE as the country prepares to usher in 2021.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the UAE had demonstrated its true values and shown "strength in unity" during a tumultuous 12 months dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an uplifting message posted on Twitter on New Year's Eve, he said 2020 had highlighted that health and family must come before politics and economics.

Sheikh Mohammed shared a video charting the highs and lows of 2020, including images of empty roads in the UAE – as stay-home measures were implemented – and the inspiring successes of the nation's landmark mission to Mars and its historic signing of the Abraham Accord, which laid the foundations for diplomatic ties with Israel.

"The year 2020, a year of challenges and accomplishments," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.

"A year in which the true values of our country appeared, a year in which we proved that we are the strongest in our unity, in our tolerance, by our giving.

"A year of gathering our families, gathering our hearts, gathering all our work teams in facing the great challenge. And the UAE took the full mark of success."

Sheikh Mohammed said lessons could be learnt from an unforgettable 2020.

"2020 taught us a lot. We learnt that strength is in unity, that happiness is with the family, that excellence is in giving, that health comes before politics and economics, that trust in youth can reach us into the galaxy and split the atom, that the UAE is above everything and everything.

"And that the idea of union is stronger than everything and everyone."

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, also reflected on the UAE's resilience over the past year, saying the country overcame "unprecedented challenges with strength".

"As we enter 2021, we do so with a shared sense of unity, determination and optimism for the new year ahead. I wish the people of the UAE a safe, prosperous and happy new year," he said on Twitter.

The Covid-19 outbreak had wide-ranging implications for people across the world, prompting lockdowns, air travel bans and job losses, and a death toll of 1.8 million.

Amid dark times, however, there were moments to cherish for people in the UAE.

The Hope probe – the Arab world's first mission to Mars – soared into the skies on July 20. It is due to reach the Red Planet in February.

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  The Hope probe launches from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20. AFP

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  It will take the spacecraft, which later detached from the rocket, about 200 days to reach the Red Planet, arriving in February 2021. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

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  The launch of the rocket is captured on video at Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

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  The first homegrown Arab space mission drew in interest from across the globe. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

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  The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

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  Waiting for the launch in the morning light. MHI Launch Services twitter

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  Emirati journalists clap as they watch the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP

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  A broadcasting of the launch of the Hope Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP

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  An Emirati man wipes a tear away with his face mask while watching the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP

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  Mohammed Al Mannaee, an announcer with Dubai TV, reacts as he watches the launch. AP

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  Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre

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  The UAE team watch the launch of the Mars Hope probe at at the Tanegashima Space Centre.

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  Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre

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  A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP

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  Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) was separated after burnout during the launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, are recorded by cameras onboard the rocket after the lauch from Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS

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  A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP

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  The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: MHI Launch Services

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  Omran Sharaf, the project director for the Hope space probe, speaks on his mobile phone at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP

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  Sarah Al Ameeri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of United Arab Emirates, celebrates with Naohiko Abe, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Senior Vice President, Head of Integrated Defence and Space Systems, after the successful launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, at Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS

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  Emiratis are pictured at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai ahead of the expected launch of the "Hope" Mars probe from Japan. AFP

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  The weather was clear over Tanegashima Island in southern Japan on Sunday after weeks of rain and cloudy conditions. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

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  Emirati engineers wave in a picture taken on Sunday from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission / UAE Space Agency

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  The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Screengrab courtesy MHI Launch Services

There was comfort to be taken from the response of the country's frontline health workers as they dedicated themselves to supporting patients battling Covid-19.

History was made on September 15 when the UAE and Israel at the White House agreed to normalise relations.

"We're here this afternoon to change the course of history, after decades of division and conflict we mark the dawn of a new Middle East thanks to the great courage of the leaders of these three countries," President Donald Trump said at the start of the signing ceremony.

At the ceremony, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani each signed agreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.