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UAE Mars mission: Success of Hope Probe overwhelms world media

Dubai - #ArabsToMars tops trends; a whopping 2.7 billion engagements around the world.

The success of the Hope Probe’s Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) has brought the UAE under the spotlight once again with #ArabsToMars topping trends: a whopping 2.7 billion engagements around the world.

The milestone mission marked the Arab world’s entry alongside global weights in the space race and catapulted the UAE as the first Arab nation, and the fifth in the world, to reach the Red Planet.

Global news outlets, including the CNN, BBC, Euronews, France24, Reuters, AFP, AP, New York Times, The Guardian, Washington Post, The Observer and The Independent, closely followed the historic event.

The Emirates Mars Mission was also featured in science publications and websites including New Scientist, phys.org and CNET.

The global Press coverage mirrored the buzzing social media conversations that reached over 56,000 tweets and comments. The mission garnered over 12,000 media reports, of which 75 per cent constituted regional and global outlets and 25 per cent was dominated by the local media.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, opined: “The overwhelming media coverage of the Mars Hope Probe reflects the significance of the historic event to the world as a milestone in the inspiring story of the Emirates.”

He added: “The Hope Probe is a national achievement that brings pride to every Emirati and Arab and an inspiration for each individual in the world who believes in the role of science in creating a better future for humanity.”

Al Gergawi underlined: “The journey of the Hope Probe reflects the broader journey of the UAE. The challenges that faced the mission team in turning the probe from a dream to reality in six years mirror the challenges the UAE has faced in its journey as a nation who made the impossible possible.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Saeed Al Eter, head of the UAE Government Media Office, said: “The information we have provided, in coordination with various local media agencies, reflects the vital role that media plays as a fundamental pillar that shares the UAE’s story with the world.”

The UAE Government Media Office provided the necessary logistical and informational support to journalists and content creators across the country. Hailing the international media coverage, Al Eter said: “Through reporting the Hope Probe’s successful arrival to Mars, global media outlets highlighted the UAE’s role in leading the space sector in the region and the role of the country’s young talents in making a giant leap in the knowledge industry of the Arab world.”

He pointed out that the unprecedented media coverage of the Emirates Mars Mission demonstrates the UAE Government Media Office’s role as the official media coordinating entity that ensures providing accurate and accredited information about the country’s vital projects.

Local, regional and global media outlets conducted 430 media interviews with the Emirates Mars Mission team members and directors.

World's leading experts and scientists followed the path-breaking project, including the American-Egyptian space scientist Farouk El-Baz, American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and the renowned life coach Tony Robbins.

To ensure providing accurate and up-to-date scientific information on the Emirates Mars Mission, the UAE Government Media Office held four media roundtables: three before the probe’s arrival to the Red Planet’s orbit, and one after the successful event. The media roundtables provided 160 journalists from 90 local, regional and global media outlets with up-to-date figures, updates and information on the Emirates Mars Mission progress.

On February 9, the UAE Government Media Office organised an event at Burj Park in Dubai that followed the Hope Probe’s arrival live in the presence of 221 journalists from 131 media outlets. Burj Khalifa beamed with lights and astonishing shows that marked the different stages of the Hope Probe’s journey, leading up to the historic announcement of its success in reaching the Red Planet’s orbit. The next day, the UAE Government Media Office held a Press conference in the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) to update journalists on the upcoming stages of the probe’s scientific mission.

Six regional and international webinars were held prior to the arrival of the probe to Mars to exchange knowledge among space scientists and experts.

Experts from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan joined the discussions that shared the UAE experience throughout the journey of the Hope Probe and tackle new space technologies. Three international webinars were held with US-UAE business council, Emirates Society (UK) alongside the Science Museum in London and a webinar by Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP).