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UAE needs scientists, technology sector to boost economy: Mars Mission chief

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4 years ago

October 19, 2021

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The United Arab Emirates, the first Arab state and the fifth country in the world to reach Mars, needs more scientists to drive its economic future towards technology.

Omran Sharaf, project director of the Emirates Hope Mission to Mars, said this after inaugurating Expo 2020 Dubai’s Space Week.

Sharaf also participated in a public-facing event named ‘The Peoples Mission: Citizens in Space Exploration’ to launch Space Week at Expo.

On February 9, 2021, the UAE became the second country to successfully enter Mars’ orbit on its first attempt.

Sharaf stressed on the importance of training local scientists and developing an advanced science and technology sector to boost the country’s economy.

He continued that his country needs to acquire a competitive knowledge-based, post-oil economy that will only be achieved through an advanced science and technology sector.

For the survival of the UAE, the region and the world, Emirati scientists are required to help build solutions, and ultimately deliver systems that will work in space, Sharaf added.

Lauding his country’s Mars mission, he said that a young nation reached the Red Planet in less than 50 years. He stressed on the importance of unity among a nation and said now time has come to work for the rest of the world.

The UAE Space Agency has recently unveiled its new Emirati interplanetary mission to further enhance the country’s space engineering and exploration capabilities.

Under the new mission, a spacecraft would be launched in 2028 that would travel 3.6 billion kilometres during its five-year journey. The mission intends to study the asteroid belt between the Red Planet and Jupiter. It would first orbit Venus in mid-2028, then Earth in mid-2029 to build the velocity required to reach the main asteroid belt in 2030.

The spacecraft would eventually land on an asteroid 560 million kilometres from Earth in 2033, making the UAE fourth country to land on an asteroid.

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Dubai-India travel: Security procedures triggered for Emirates flight following bomb threat email, flight lands safely

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1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols on Friday after receiving a bomb threat email linked to Emirates flight EK526 travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Hyderabad (HYD).

According to GMR officials, the threat email landed in the airport’s customer support inbox around 7.30am on December 5. Despite the alert, the flight continued under strict monitoring and landed safely at 8.30am.

Once on the ground, the aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated bay. Passengers were safely deboarded, and security te

ams carried out standard bomb threat checks. Investigations are currently underway.

Emirates confirmed the incident in a statement to local media, saying authorities had alerted them to a “potential security threat” to EK526.
“All standard security procedures were implemented by the relevant local authorities with full co-operation from Emirates’ ground teams,” the airline said, adding that “the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”

Authorities say all threats are being investigated, and extra security measures remain in place at the airport.

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Driving through Abu Dhabi this week? Here are the road closures you need to know about

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1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi motorists can expect some delays over the next few days, with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announcing a series of partial road closures across key routes in the capital. Drivers are being urged to plan, allow extra travel time, and follow diversions to avoid congestion.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street

A major set of phased lane closures will take place near Sheikh Zayed Bridge from Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 22, 2025.

Three left lanes will be closed from 12am on December 9 until 10pm on December 15.
Two right lanes will then shut from 10pm on December 15 until 6am on December 22.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street

Another temporary closure is scheduled on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street from 5pm on December 5 until 5am on December 8.

Authorities explained that these restrictions are part of ongoing road enhancement projects designed to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes wherever possible during the maintenance period.

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Sharjah Police give deadline to remove National Day stickers, or face fines

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1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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If your car is still sporting National Day decals, it’s time to take them off. Sharjah Police have announced that all vehicle owners must remove their UAE National Day celebration stickers by Saturday, December 6, and those who miss the deadline will face violations.

The reminder follows a crackdown during the 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations, where authorities impounded 106 vehicles and nine motorbikes for dangerous and irresponsible behaviour on the roads.

According to Sharjah Police, the violations included:

Creating loud noise and disturbing residents
Driving recklessly and endangering others
Operating vehicles without a valid licence

Police officials urged motorists to celebrate responsibly and avoid turning festivities into safety risks.

However, there has been a shift in decorating trends this year. Many residents opted for cleaner, simpler, more elegant designs to showcase their UAE pride ahead of the long weekend, and demand for custom decals surged.

Authorities are now urging residents to ensure all celebratory stickers and decorations are removed by the set deadline to keep roads safe and avoid penalties.