Launch of Hope probe to Mars is a defining moment for the UAE

The countdown to the launch of the Hope probe to Mars from Japan will be a historic moment for the country. What’s adding more cheer to the mission are the several firsts it is achieving even before the launch. For instance, the launch to the countdown will be in Arabic for the first time in history. It is the first planetary science mission from the UAE and the wider Arab region. The colorful image of the red planet printed on the front page of Khaleej

Times on July 10 resonated with pride and confidence in this project.

I have been in the UAE for 46 years, and I have cheered and celebrated several occasions and achievements of the emirates, but this one seems the most special of all. In over four decades we have seen the country defy all odds and achieve milestones in every sphere of development, and in this journey the country has made people like me, an expatriate, feel at home. In fact, I feel more at ease here than in any other country.