President Sheikh Khalifa led the tributes as the nation rejoiced over the success of the Hope probe's historic journey to Mars.
The UAE on Tuesday evening became only the fifth nation in the world to successfully send a spacecraft to the Red Planet.
Frayed nerves gave way to jubilation when the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre received the message that a remarkable mission had been accomplished.
Sheikh Khalifa congratulated the country's citizens and residents on a brilliant new chapter in the UAE's history,
He praised 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, for their roles in the success.
"This historic achievement would not have been possible without the persistence and determination to implement the idea that emerged at the end of 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who followed it up closely until its success," Sheikh Khalifa said.
He said the support of Sheikh Mohamed had proved pivotal.
"Thanks to both leaders and the team of scientists and engineers behind the project for proving to the world that the UAE is capable of achieving the impossible," Sheikh Khalifa said.
Senior figures in the UAE joined the chorus of praise as the UAE's space sector took a huge leap forward.
Huge outpouring of support as UAE makes it mark in history
"The Hope probe’s historic arrival to Mars is the greatest celebration of the 50th anniversary of our country." - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai
"The entry of the Hope Probe into the orbit of Mars is a significant accomplishment in our nation’s history." - Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
"The Hope probe’s historic space journey to Mars is a significant Arab and Emirati achievement." - Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai
"What has made this mission remarkable is not only the 200 Emiratis that were working on this, it's the 450 people from different continents, backgrounds and beliefs." - Sarah Al Amiri, chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency
"February 9, 2021 marks a new dawn in the Emirati and Arab space exploration journey. Congratulations to our leadership, Emiratis and Arabs on the successful Mars orbit insertion of the Hope probe." - Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE astronaut
"Dear Hope Mars Mission, congratulations on arriving at Mars! In the words of the poet Al Mutanabbi: 'If you ventured in pursuit of glory, don’t be satisfied with less than the stars.' - Nasa Perseverance Rover
"We congratulate Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre for this incredible accomplishment, guided by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's inspiring vision to set up the first Arab interplanetary mission." - Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chief executive of Emirates airline
"Congratulations to the UAE on their arrival at Mars today. Their Hope orbiter will perform a detailed study of the atmosphere, which long ago sustained running water on the Martian surface. Now it doesn’t. Lessons for us back on Earth, waiting to be learned." - Neil De Grasse Tyson, astrophysicist
"The probe’s success in entering the Martian orbit and commencing its scientific mission is a momentous milestone in the UAE’s journey. It leaves an imprint in history that reflects the hard work of a nation that is not yet 50 years old." - Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment
"Reaching Mars is a new opportunity for Arabs and Muslims to elevate their global standing, and an Emirati message of hope for the new generation in our Arab world." - Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The biog
Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Holiday destination: Sri Lanka
First car: VW Golf
Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters
Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Afro%20salons
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
