From left, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, at a special welcoming ceremony for the Hope probe team.
From left, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, at a special welcoming ceremony for the Hope probe team.
From left, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, at a special welcoming ceremony for the Hope probe team.
From left, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, at a special welcoming ceremony for the Hope probe team.

UAE leaders praise team behind Hope probe launch


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A celebration of the UAE’s successful launch of its first Mars satellite was hosted by the nation’s leaders to mark the occasion of Eid Al Adha.

A welcome ceremony at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi was hosted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to mark the achievements of those involved in the launch.

The UAE made history on July 20, as it launched its first interplanetary mission to Mars in efforts to study the dynamic weather conditions of the planet.

The team behind the project was invited to the palace and were honoured by Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

"Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, this is all thanks to you. After the blessing of Allah, Sheikh Khalifa is very pleased," Sheikh Mohamed said, while addressing the Mars mission team.

"We are very proud of you. Many of you may not know the team behind the Hope probe, so I would like you to take off your masks, please. What I’ll ask you to do now is to raise your hands so that people can see we are investing in the people of UAE, who make us proud in every place.

"The late Sheikh Zayed, may God have mercy on him, said the true investment is in our children. Because it is the only investment that places the UAE among the developed countries. He was betting on you."

More than 150 Emirati engineers, scientists and researchers worked on the project since its inception six years ago.

The team faced several challenges which they overcame, including carrying out the mission during the Covid-19 pandemic and two delays caused by the unstable weather conditions at the launch site in Japan's Tanegashima island.

The Hope probe took off at 1.58am and became a landmark event in space exploration.

Leaders of the nation praised the work of the UAE Space Agency in a message on social media, stating “the sons of the nation are the most important achievements of this country.”

On its 500 million kilometre journey, the Hope probe will collect information about the Martian atmosphere and should enter the Red Planet's orbit in February, more than 200 days after leaving Earth.

It is due to arrive to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UAE in its golden jubilee year.

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
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Key findings of Jenkins report
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  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery

An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo

Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery

Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape

The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides

All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality

Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country

Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow

Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site

Green waste is recycled as compost

Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs

Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers

About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer

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Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months

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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017

Vacancy Rate 5.4%

Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent

New Supply 55 million sq ft

New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent

Under Construction 198.2 million sq ft

(Source: Colliers)

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

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About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.