Viral image of Emirati grandmother celebrates Mars mission and role of women

Khusaibah Al Dahmani was pictured holding a sign in Arabic that says: 'We’ve reached Mars'

Khusaibah Al Dahmani holding up a sign saying 'we’ve reached Mars'. The photograph went viral on social media. Courtesy Alia Al Joker

Alia Al Joker, an Emirati photographer, who snapped the image of Khusaibah Al Dahmani. Antonie Robertson / The National

Ms Al Joker has completed many photography projects. One series shows images of Emirati women's hands alongside something traditional, such as this board game. Courtesy Alia Al Joker

Another shows an Emirati woman's hand with a traditional fishing net. Courtesy Alia Al Joker

Ms Al Joker is a photographer interested in themes of heritage. Antonie Robertson / The National.

Another series by Ms Al Joker was about Alzheimer's patients, with their hopes and fears written on a large sign. This sign states she hopes that conversations can be kept simple. Courtesy Alia Al Joker

This sign expresses the hope that the patient will be taught how to pray if he forgets. Courtesy Alia Al Joker

A third in the series tells the hopes of one Emirati patient of her wish to love life and be an active member of society. Courtesy Alia Al Joker

This patient writes that he wishes people won't get annoyed with him even if he is wrong. Courtesy Alia Al Joker

It was a simple photograph that framed the magnitude of what the UAE accomplished.

An Emirati grandmother, wearing a traditional face covering, held up a sign in Arabic that said: "We've reached Mars."

The image showed how far the country had come by sending a probe to the Red Planet this year.

Hope entered the Martian orbit on February 9 and the event electrified every generation of Emirati society, including the elderly.

The image quickly went viral on social media and even encouraged a light-hearted discussion about when Emirati grandmothers would go to Mars.

The picture of Khusaibah Al Dahmani, 70, was taken by Emirati photographer Alia Al Joker. Ms Al Dahmani is the mother of Ms Al Joker's best friend.

Ms Al Dahmani is wearing traditional clothing and is standing in front of a Sidr tree. It is this contrast of culture and heritage and the fact the UAE sent a probe to Mars that made the image so remarkable.

Elderly women from all over the Gulf congratulated Ms Al Dahmani on the UAE's accomplishment and asked jokingly whether they could go to Mars as well.

"I enjoy being photographed and loved being part of this," said Ms Al Dahmani, who is from Fujairah.

"Women our age should be out there and show our culture and our traditions."

Ms Al Joker, who is from Dubai, says she is not a professional photographer.

"I just enjoy what I am doing and enjoy telling the stories of people," she said.

“Around 34 per cent of the people who took part in the Mars mission are women and I wanted to show the part they played.

"We owe it all to our leadership and to our mothers and grandmothers for their support and guidance. Without them we wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything."

The UAE selected two more Emiratis to be part of its astronaut corps, including the Arab world's first female astronaut.

The tree Ms Dahmani was standing beside when the picture was taken is revered in the UAE and Ms Al Joker said such traditions are important.

"Everything in the photo means and symbolises something, whether it is from the burqa to the jalabiya [traditional dress] she is wearing, to the traditional jewellery," she said.

Another image of Ms Al Dahmani that proved popular showed her with a sign that said: "We've started to operate Barakah."

That refers to the nuclear power plant that started commercial operations this month. Ms Al Dahmani is wearing white in the image as a symbol of clean energy.

"This is a segment of society that is dear to us all," Ms Al Joker said.

"They hold in them the knowledge of our culture and traditions, which must be preserved. They have many stories to share.

"I have a saying: 'A strong future depends on strong roots.'"

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