Hope Probe enters Mars orbit: UAE joins the big league of space nations Nandini Sircar/Dubai Photo: Dubai Media Office/Twitter The UAE has officially become the first Arab nation — and the fifth in the world — to reach Mars after the Hope Probe successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit. History was made: The UAE has officially become the first Arab nation — and the fifth in the world — to reach Mars after the Hope Probe successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit at 7.42pm. ALSO READ: At the Burj Plaza of Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, where a giant display screen livestreamed the scenes at the MBRSC ground station, the most tense moment was when Omran Sharaf was seen speaking to somebody on the phone, probably one from the Deep Space Network in Madrid, Spain.