Burj Khalifa lights up in Mars Mission colours ahead of blast-off

The tallest building also gave spectators a preview to the live countdown in Arabic

Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in support of the Hope probe. AFP

The tallest building also lit up in the colours and and beamed the badge of the UAE's Mars Mission. AFP

It gave spectators a glimpse of the countdown in Arabic that began at 1.58am on Monday. AFP

Burj Khalifa lit up in support of the Hope probe. AFP

Dubai's Burj Khalifa marked the launch of the Hope probe to Mars on Sunday evening. AFP

Burj Khalifa is the tallest structure and building in the world since 2009. AFP

Burj Khalifa's 57 lifts are laid out like a vertical metro system, with various changes of line needed to get from the base to the top. AFP

Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was opened to the public on January 4, 2010. AFP

Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Emirates Mars Mission on Sunday night, just hours ahead of the planned blast-off.

The world's tallest building shone brightly with the mission badge ahead of the 1.58am UAE time launch.

It also gave spectators a preview of the live countdown in Arabic.

In the control room at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre near Dubai airport, engineers, officials and media gathered ahead of the launch from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center.

The final go-ahead will be given an hour before, once it is confirmed that the weather conditions and technical procedures are in order.

Earlier, beneath clear blue skies, officials gave the ‘go’ signal to roll out the 53-metre Mitsubishi-made H-IIA rocket to its launch pad.

Approval came after weeks of heavy rain and postponements on July 15 and 17.