UAE launches Mars Science City
MORE THAN 120 INITIATIVES COVERING 30 SECTORS UNVEILED ON FIRST DAY OF ANNUAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
In a major step towards space exploration, the UAE yesterday announced a Dh500 million Mars Science City to simulate environment of the red planet.
The project was launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, here yesterday.
The city will cover 1.9 million square feet, making it the largest space simulation city ever built and will provide a viable and realistic model to simulate living on the surface of Mars.
The project was unveiled at the Annual Government Meetings in Abu Dhabi. The science city will also host a museum that displays humanity’s greatest space achievements, including educational areas meant to engage young citizens with space, and inspire in them a passion for exploration and discovery. The walls of the museum will be 3D printed, using sand from the Emirati desert.
At the meetings, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid said: “The UAE seeks to establish international efforts to develop technologies that benefit humankind, and that establish the foundation of a better future for more generations to come. We also want to consolidate the passion for leadership in science in the UAE, contributing to improving life on earth and to developing innovative solutions to many of our global challenges.”
In his remarks, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed said: “We have great confidence in our national work teams, and Emirates Mars Mission proves that our youth are trustworthy and capable of achieving national ambitions.”
The Mars Science City project falls within the UAE’s objectives to lead the global scientific race to take people to Mars, and is part of the Mars 2117 Strategy, launched during the fifth World Government Summit, which seeks to build the first settlement on Mars in the next 100 years.
During the first day of the meeting yesterday, 120 initiatives were launched in 30 sectors at the federal and local levels in response to national goals and challenges. The meetings will see the launch of strategies designed to advance the country’s development towards UAE Centennial 2071.
The UAE seeks to establish international efforts to develop technologies that benefit humankind, and that establish the foundation of a better future for more generations to come... Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Around 120 initiatives were launched in 30 sectors at the federal and local levels on the first day of the two-day Annual Government Meetings that got under way in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
The meetings were chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The meetings constitute the largest governmental gathering of its kind in the UAE. They will see the launch of strategies designed to advance the country’s development towards UAE Centennial 2071.
A series of workshops and specialised lectures are being held to discuss and prepare for the challenges and opportunities predicted to arise over the next five decades.
The progress of the 120 initiatives launched in 30 sectors will be assessed at the same meetings in 2018, and then continuously till the goals of UAE Vision 2021 are achieved.
Addressing ministers and officials at the meetings, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid said: “A historic lecture by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed to our young citizens formed the basis of our national vision for the next 50 years. An important aspect of the lecture was preparing for the future of the UAE. Today, 30 teams took the first step towards UAE Centennial 2071.”
He continued: “Natural resources are not everlasting. However, the intellectual person who pioneers the future and adapts to global changes will persevere. We seek to empower generations with education, a strong economy and a plan for the future that is the most advanced in the world.
“Those who create the future do not surrender to luck or circumstance; planning the future is the first step in defining it. Shaikh Zayed built our stable and prosperous nation and left us with one request: to keep working until we become the best in the world,” he said.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed also stressed the importance of an annual gathering of government leaders to focus on defining the UAE’s future.
He said: “These meetings represent a pioneering national initiative. The UAE’s prosperity is a responsibility shouldered by everyone in our nation. We can only achieve our ambitious goals with strategic foresight and by acting together as a team.
“Our forefathers are our role models, and set a glowing example of how we can face challenges and build our nation with the future in mind. Today, we seek a prosperous UAE for our future generations, building our nation as one of the best countries in the world. This was always Shaikh Zayed’s desire.”
Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, chaired a meeting with seven committees from the Executive Councils of all emirates, launching three initiatives dedicated to enhancing cooperation between councils.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed also attended a meeting on the future of education, alongside Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, and Dr Ahmad Bel Houl, Minister of State for Higher Education Affairs.
They stressed on the UAE leadership goal to establishing an educational system focused on technology and innovation.
Natural resources are not everlasting... We seek to empower generations with education, a strong economy and a plan for the future that is the most advanced in the world.” Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid The UAE’s prosperity is a responsibility shouldered by everyone in our nation. We can only achieve our ambitious goals with strategic foresight and by acting together.” Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed