#FirstArabicCountdown: Abu Dhabi lights up to celebrate Mars mission

Landmarks in Abu Dhabi are lighting up in celebration of the first Arabic countdown in space exploration history that will launch the country's Mars probe on July 15.

With the #FirstArabicCountdown in space exploration's history #AbuDhabi's iconic buildings light up in preparation for the #HopeProbe to Mars on 15 July 2020 pic.twitter.com/zEOLIDhg6r

- ???? ?????? ???????? (@admediaoffice) July 12, 2020

Photos and videos shared by the Abu Dhabi Media Office show buildings displaying a countdown with Arabic numbers. The iconic Adnoc building in Abu Dhabi features a stunning animated video showing the launch process that will take the Hope probe to space. It shows the probe separating after liftoff and reaching its Martian orbit.

With a voice that will make history, the Hope Probe to Mars, will be launched with the #FirstArabicCountdown ever. Join the UAE on July 15, 2020 for this historic moment. https://t.co/aB4KfdRqcH pic.twitter.com/IQ3APJzC3z

- Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 13, 2020

The Dubai Media Office had earlier announced that the countdown would be in Arabic, after which #FirstArabicCountdown started trending.

"With a voice that will make history, the Hope probe to Mars will be launched with the first Arabic countdown ever," the media office had said.

A video released by the Hope probe team added: "Our voice will echo our ancestors' legacy."

Hope probe, the Arab world's first inter-planetary mission, will blast off to space at 00:51 UAE time on July 15 from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre.

sahim@khaleejtimes.com