UAE is celebrating one year since the Hope Probe successfully entered Mars’ orbit, a milestone in the annals of history. The first anniversary marks exactly one year since Emirates Mars Mission’s spacecraft reached the Red Planet, becoming world’s fifth country to achieve the feat and the first in the Arab world.

Hope Probe’s entry into the Mars orbit coincided with the UAE celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2021. This marked the perfect start for the next 50 years of growth, progress and sustainable development, laying the foundations for a knowledge-based economy of the future.

On 9 February, 2021, at exactly 19:42, Hope Probe successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit, completing some of the most difficult stages of its mission. Its 493-million-kilometer journey through space to Mars took almost seven and years of diligent and dedicated preparation.

This success was a major milestone in the UAE’s accelerated development process, a crowning glory in the country’s celebrations of the Golden Jubilee, a summary of its inspiring journey as a country that has made the pursuit of the impossible a norm and committed to creating an indelible legacy on Earth.

With the successful arrival of Hope Probe last year, the UAE became the first among three space missions that reached Mars during February 2021 – the other two being the United States and China. It is now carrying out a crucial scientific mission to share an unprecedented data on the planet’s atmosphere with the world.

One year ago today, the ground control station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) at Al Khawaneej, Dubai, was the center stage and the focus of the world’s attention, during which every manoeuvre was intricately followed and managed to guide the Hope Probe into orbit.

The historic mission was watched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

 His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today received a phone call from President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, who expressed his country’s condemnation and denunciation of the Houthis’ terrorist attack on the UAE.

During the conversation, Duterte emphasised that these criminal attacks are contrary to all international norms and laws. He stressed his country’s solidarity and support for the UAE in maintaining its security and territorial integrity and wished continued security, stability and prosperity for the UAE and its people.

He also appreciated the support provided by the UAE for his country’s health establishments to enhance its capabilities and efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. He also stressed his keenness on boosting cooperation between the Philippines and the UAE in various sectors.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Duterte also tackled ties between the two countries and issues of mutual interest.

In turn, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed thanked Duterte’s for his sentiments and his country’s solidarity with the UAE, wishing prosperity for his country and people.

DUBAI, 5 February 2022 – Exemplifying Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability subtheme, the H2O Sounds of Water Orchestra mesmerised the audience at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre on Saturday, with their instruments made from reused materials.

The 11-piece ensemble from Paraguay performs with instruments made from items related to water, such as bottles, drums, hoses, pipes and funnels. The centrepiece was a water harp, which uses streams of water instead of strings to give “a voice to water” as the backdrop explained.

Named UNESCO Artists for Peace, the orchestra played a mix of traditional Paraguayan music and contemporary songs about water, accompanied by a singer who interspersed her performance with a narrative on conserving water. As a landlocked country, the preservation and sustainable management of water are of particular importance to Paraguay.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, chaired the Council’s 68th meeting, which took place online. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, attended the meeting.

HE Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary-General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, also attended along with board members HE Dawood Al Hajiri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; HE Abdulla bin Kalban, Managing Director of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA); HE Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC); Juan-Pablo Freile, General Manager of Dubai Petroleum; and Nasser Abu Shehab, CEO of the Strategy & Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).

The meeting discussed several topics including the successful launch of DEWA-SAT 1, part of DEWA’s Space-D programme, that HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai launched in January 2021. DEWA is the first utility in the world to use satellites in its operations.

The Supreme Council of Energy reviewed the mechanisms and programmes implemented by the relative bodies under the umbrella of the Council in electricity and water production, industries, waste management, and land transport to reduce carbon emissions. These resulted in significant reductions in 2019 and 2020.

The Council approved the updated plans and objectives to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by the end of 2030 to support the UAE’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The meeting also discussed the implementation stage for Resolution number 6 of 2021 issued by the Executive Council of Dubai to regulate district cooling services in Dubai. The Council approved the regulatory framework for cooling service providers and customers to ensure the effectiveness of permit issuance and billing.

“In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to increase the share of clean and renewable energy sources as well as achieve the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050, the meeting reviewed the plans and roadmap to implement the strategy, using the latest technologies. The Council has started evaluating carbon emissions for the next 10 years, in collaboration with the relevant organisations in Dubai to come up with the required measures to reduce emissions. A roadmap will then define the way to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Al Tayer.

“The meeting also reviewed the successful launch of DEWA-SAT 1 nanosatellite, which is part of DEWA’s Space-D programme. Space-D aims to improve the operations, maintenance, and planning of DEWA’s networks with the support of nanosatellite technology, Internet of Things (IoT), and remote sensing technologies. The programme also aims to train Emirati professionals to use space technologies to enhance its electricity and water networks. The programme shows how Dubai’s leadership is taking advantage of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and blockchain to exchange information with the help of satellite communications and earth observation technologies,” added Al Tayer.

“We reviewed participations in the fourth edition of the Emirates Energy Award, which highlights the best existing practices in the areas of clean energy, energy efficiency and sustainability in the region,” said Al Muhairbi.

Winners of the 4th Emirates Energy Award will be announced in October 2022.

Another child fulfilled his dream to become a Police for a day with the help of the Dubai Police. This program is part of the initiative called ‘Fulfil a Child’s Wish’ started on January 2020. The event aims to spread happiness and positivity among the different segments of the society. 

The 4-year-old Arab child experienced to be a police in a day. Dubai cops gave him a ride in one of their luxury police patrols. 

The boy’s wish was learned through his parents. In that sense, different departments collaborated to grant the momentous experience. 

The child’s parents were grateful for the police’s quick and generous response, and for fulfilling their child’s wish, which led to their child’s happiness and enhanced their sense of security.

Despite all the efforts of the rescuers to save the life of a five-year-old Moroccan boy who was trapped in a well, he died after four days. 

The boy fell in a 32m well’s opening. It was only on Saturday evening that rescuers were able to pull the boy out of the well. 

“Following the tragic incident which claimed the life of the child Rayan Aourram, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God preserve him, had a telephone call with Mr. Khaled Aourram and Mrs. Ouassima Kharchich, parents of the deceased who died after he fell into a well,” a Moroccan royal statement said.

“In these painful circumstances, His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, expressed His deepest condolences and His sincere feelings of compassion to all the members of the family of the deceased in this painful ordeal, the divine will being unstoppable, praying the Almighty to have him in His holy mercy and accept him in His vast paradise, and to grant patience and comfort to his family who lost their child,” it added.

People gathered at the scene of the accident as Rayan was taken away by ambulance. In social media, people were expressing their jubilation using the hashtag #SaveRayan, which trended across the country as well as abroad. Then came the shocking announcement that Rayan had died minutes later.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that it conducted 488,153 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.

In a statement, the Ministry stressed its aim to continue expanding the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment. As part of its intensified testing campaign, MoHAP announced 1,991 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 855,642.

According to the Ministry, the infected individuals are from various nationalities, are in a stable condition, and receiving the necessary care.

MoHAP also announced 4 deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 2,262.

The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and wished COVID-19 patients a speedy and full recovery. It called on all members of the society to cooperate with health authorities, adhere to the instructions and physical distance to ensure the health and safety of all.

MoHAP also noted that an additional 1,149 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 783,119.

As part of its weeklong inspection campaign, they inspected security facilities in the Emirate.

During the last week of January, the Ajman Police General Command arrested 45 beggars (28 men, 16 women, and one child) of Arab and Asian descent.

The Director of Criminal Investigations Department at Ajman Police, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Saeed Al Nuaimi, said that the Ajman Police attach a high value to improving security within communities and dealing with any illegal practices. He added that patrols of the police caught 45 Asian and Arab beggars wandering around different areas of the Emirate.

“It causes inconvenience and embarrassment to all members of society,” the senior cop added.

Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church, has asserted that the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity reflects the need to develop fraternity as a shield against hatred, violence, and injustice.

His Holiness’ statement coincides with the International Day of Human Fraternity, celebrated on 4th February by people all over the world, including world and religious leaders. This year marks the third anniversary of the signing of the historic Document on Human Fraternity by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb on 4th February 2019 in Abu Dhabi.

Below is the full statement of Pope Francis:

“Dear brothers and sisters! Allow me first and foremost to greet with affection and esteem the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb with whom I co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, precisely three years ago today in Abu Dhabi. Throughout these years, we marched as brothers with the awareness that by respecting each other’s cultures and traditions, we are called upon to develop fraternity as a shield against hatred, violence, and injustice.

I thank all those who have accompanied us on this path: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his constant commitment in this respect, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for the various initiatives promoted in different parts of the world, and the United Nations General Assembly which, by its December 2020 resolution, made it possible for us to celebrate today the Second International Day of Human Fraternity. I extend my gratitude to all civil and religious institutions that support this noble cause.

Fraternity is one of the fundamental and universal values that should underpin relations between peoples so that disadvantaged people or those who suffer do not feel excluded and forgotten but welcomed and supported as part of this one human family. We are brothers! By sharing feelings of fraternity, all of us must promote a culture of peace, which encourages sustainable development, tolerance, inclusion, mutual understanding, and solidarity.

We all live under the same sky, regardless of where and how we live, of skin colour, religion, social class, gender, age, health, and economic conditions. We are all different, yet we are all the same, and this pandemic proved it. I repeat once again: alone; we cannot save ourselves! Alone we cannot save ourselves! We all live under the same sky, and in the name of God, we, his creatures, must recognise ourselves as brothers and sisters. As believers belonging to different religious traditions, we have a role to play; what is that role? It is to help our brothers and sisters raise their gaze and prayers to the Heavens. Let’s raise our eyes to the Heavens because whoever reveres God with a sincere heart also loves his neighbour. Fraternity allows us to open ourselves to the Father of everyone and find a brother or a sister in the other, share life, support one another, love, and know others.

We all live under the same sky. The right time to walk together is today, not tomorrow or in the future; we don’t know will be. Today is the right time to walk together as believers and people of goodwill. It is an auspicious day to hold hands, to celebrate our unity in diversity – unity, not uniformity, unity in diversity – to tell our communities and societies that the time of fraternity has come. All of us together, because it is essential to show solidarity towards one another. On this day, I repeat, it is no time for indifference: either we are brothers, or everything collapses. This is not a mere literary expression of tragedy; no, it’s the truth! Either we are brothers, or everything collapses. We see it in small wars, in this fragmented third world war, how peoples are destroyed, how children have nothing to eat, how education crumbles… It is a destruction. Either we are brothers, or everything collapses.

It is not the time to forget. Every day, we must remember what God said to Abraham: that looking up to the stars in the sky, he would see the promise of his descent, that is, us (cf. Interreligious Meeting in Ur, March 6th, 2021). A promise was also fulfilled in our lives through a large and luminous fraternity, much like the stars in the sky! Dear sisters and brothers, dear brother the Grand Imam! The path of fraternity is long. It is a difficult path, but it is humanity’s lifeline. To the many signs of threat, dark times, and conflict logic, we respond with the ensign of fraternity, which leads them on a shared path by welcoming others and respecting their identity. We are not the same, no. We are brothers, each with their personality and singularity.

I thank all those who work with the belief that we can live in harmony and peace, aware of the need for a more fraternal world because we are all creatures of God: brothers and sisters.

I thank all those who will join our journey of fraternity, and I encourage everyone to commit themselves to the cause of peace and respond to the concrete problems and needs of the deprived, the poor and the defenceless. The proposal is to walk side by side, “all brothers”, to become real artisans of peace and justice, in the harmony of our differences and respect for everyone’s identity. Sisters and brothers, let’s march together on this path of fraternity. Thank you.”

The occasion constitutes the UN’s recognition of the UAE’s efforts to promote the values of coexistence and tolerance among followers of different religions.

Over the past decade locally, the UAE has prioritised the establishment of institutions and authorities to promote the values of moderation, tolerance and respect for others and the values of peace and coexistence among citizens and residents, most notably the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, which aims to establish a roadmap for establishing mechanisms to ingrain tolerance as a national value.

The International Day of Human Fraternity is the anniversary of the signing of the landmark Human Fraternity Document on 4th February, 2019, in Abu Dhabi, by His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, and His Eminence Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders.

The document led to the launch of initiatives that promote tolerance and coexistence, most notably the Abrahamic Family House in Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, including a church, a mosque and a synagogue.

The UAE also hosts the annual Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, one of the key forums in the Islamic world, which discusses issues facing humanity in the modern era resulting from sectarian and ideological conflicts in Muslim societies.

The country has also hosted the Global Conference of Human Fraternity, which aimed to activate dialogue on coexistence and fraternity among communities, how to combat extremism and promote human relations. The conference resulted in the signing of the Human Fraternity Document.

One of the outcomes of the document, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, was launched in 2019 and aims to celebrate individuals and institutions that promote peace and coexistence.

Yesterday, the second edition of the Human Fraternity Festival began at Expo 2020 Dubai, organised by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, in collaboration with the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, with a broad Arab and international participation. Al-Azhar and the Vatican are also participating in the four-day event.