posted 02-11-2021 08:53 AM               

From a Government of Dubai Media Office release:

An emblem of the country's ambition and guiding principle that "Impossible is Possible", the stamp – produced by the UAE Government Media Office in collaboration with Dubai Airports – will offer a memorable reminder of a new era for Arabs in time and space with a special message reading: "You've arrived in the Emirates. The Emirates is arriving at Mars on 09.02.2021."

The special passport stamp marks the spacecraft's upcoming arrival to Mars on Feb. 9, after it successfully overcomes the most critical phase of its mission to enter the Red Planet's orbit. The probe will provide the first complete picture of the Martian atmosphere.

The limited-edition design is made from the world's first "Martian Ink," extracted from volcanic basalt rocks that give Mars its distinct rusty colour.

The rocks were collected during a special mission to the UAE's eastern Al Hajar Mountains and Sharjah's Mleiha Desert by experts and gemologists. They were then crushed into a fine paste, dried in the sun, and mixed with adhesives to create three separate colors that represent the Red Planet — ready for stamping into the passports of thousands of visitors.