Sarah Al Amiri: The woman who broke frontiers
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As the Hope probe was launched from the japanese island of Tanigashima six months ago, Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Advanced Science and Head of Space Programs, was at the helm of the dream mission of the UAE to the Martian orbit, the Emirates Mars Mission. Amiri, who heads more than a dozen satellites launched by the UAE, was eventually named one of the 100 most influential women in the world by the BBC, the only one from the Arab region. As Hope approaches Mars today, 34 per cent of the people behind it are Emirati women led by Sarah Al Amiri.
Amiri, who took on the heavy responsibility of the world's most-watched Mars mission, was appointed in charge of the UAE space mission four years ago. When the Mars mission was launched under a woman's leadership, science and technology experts and developed countries viewed it with scepticism. However, as the mission nears success, all ambiguity has turned into applause.
Sarah began her career as a computer engineer and then moved to the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology. Later in 2016, she became the head of the Emirates Science Council. The following year she became the Minister of Advanced Science.
"The country is moving forward with 30 years of progress, and the cornerstone is science," says Sarah.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, tweeted that Sarah proves that nothing is impossible for Arab women.