This week, the UAE is set to make history. Launching a probe to capture the first ever complete picture of the atmosphere around the Red Planet, the Hope Probe to Mars will provide vital information for scientists around the world. And while the data set itself will be the first of its kind, that is just half of the story. The UAE is making history as the first Arab or Muslim-majority country to organise and oversee the launch of a probe into space. The team behind this mission is comprised of scientists, engineers and experts from around the world, 30 per cent of whom are Emirati. And importantly, 36 per cent of the team are women.
The lead up to the mission has provided a historic opportunity for young men and women to be at the helm of cutting-edge science. While the launch on July 15 will be from Tanegashima island in Japan, the control centre in Dubai will play an instrumental role. No Arab city has had that experience before. It will also be the first time that a countdown to a space launch is in Arabic. Millions of Arabs counting in their native tongue for a space launch will ignite imaginations for years to come. The tagline for the much-celebrated programme is "Arabs to Mars". While led and funded by the UAE, this mission is being celebrated as an Arab one. The UAE government seeks to spark a love for science and striving for achievement not only domestically but also regionally.
The idea for the Mars mission came into being in 2014, as UAE policymakers sought an initiative, both to mark the 50th jubilee of the country’s unification and to create a catalyst for scientific innovation. Coincidentally, the first spacecraft to have a soft landing on Mars was on December 2, 1971 – the day of the founding of the UAE. Getting young Arabs to be interested in science, or allowing Arab scientists and engineers to have their own space programme to work on is much needed. It is a worthy way to mark all that the UAE has come to symbolise in the past five decades. As Covid-19 challenges countries around the world, the Mars Probe is being launched on time and on budget.
The name of the Mars probe, Hope, is an apt one. Arabs need hope, and some are looking for an example of success to emulate. That is what the UAE has offered time and again. From being chosen as the top destination Arabs wish to live in, according to the Arab Youth Survey, to hosting next year's Expo, the UAE expands its boundaries to those who dream. To coincide with the Mars probe, the UAE has announced an initiative named "MarsShot", where people from around the world are being invited to think big and present their ideas for the possibility of making them a reality. Three of the best ideas will come to life. The winners are expected to be announced on July 29. The MarsShot is aimed at inspiring young people around the world to innovate and dream of solutions without limitations of access and resources that usually hold people back.
“Through this campaign, we dare people to dream. We dare them to make their goals in life so big and show them that what they have thought of as impossible, is possible,” said Kevin Hart, the Hollywood star who has teamed up with the UAE for the MarsShot. “We hope to create a positive momentum and share inspiring stories that reminds people of their wonderful ability to dream and make anything happen with determination and willpower”.
Some will read these lines and respond with cynicism, pointing out all the challenges that exist in the region. Despite the greatest determination, some developments in Arab countries, from Libya to Palestine, make it seem impossible to dream. The feeling of despair has gripped too many of the Arab world’s youth – some even to the point of complete hopelessness. To hear of a man taking his own life in Tunisia or Lebanon because of terrible economic hardships means sinking to the lowest level of despair. To hear of a generation of Syrian or Yemeni children losing out on education because of being displaced challenges most aspirations in the region. And yet, here is an Arab country saying dreams are encouraged –rather, needed. This beacon of hope could not come at a better time.
The Mars probe comes as part of a series of UAE space initiatives. In March 2019, at a meeting convened in Abu Dhabi, the first pan-Arab space organisation was formed. The aim was to create a nucleus leading pan-Arab co-operation on space, an entity to co-ordinate efforts. The first project for the organisation will be to launch an Arab satellite entitled 813.
Despite the greatest determination, some developments in Arab countries, from Libya to Palestine, make it seem impossible to dream
The name is a nod to the year that marked the beginning of prosperity for the "House of Wisdom" in Baghdad, which became the hallmark for Arab and Islamic excellence in the sciences, and particularly astronomy. The reference to Iraq is symbolic of the potential Arabs can have, harking back to an era when Iraq was a centre of enlightenment. Today, too much of the news from Iraq is synonymous with lost opportunities and broken dreams, including last week's assassination of Husham Al Hashimi, an expert who died for his thoughts.
The journey of the Mars probe is seven months long, but it is part of a much longer journey of knowledge. This odyssey is a shot at space exploration and advancing science, but it is equally about improving our situation here on Earth.
Mina Al-Oraibi is editor-in-chief at The National
Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- 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."
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
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