Hala, Mareehk

While the world stood still, the UAE had its eyes set on Mars.

On 9 February 2021, Dubai was lit up in red as Al Amal, the Hope Probe, reached Mars. It was a defining moment for the UAE and proof of what hard work and persistence can achieve.

We wanted to mark this moment by doing what we know best: design. We set out to create a designer rug that reflects the pride, ambition and hope of the mission, as a metaphor for hope and for reaching into the unknown.

Its forms move from free-flowing to linear, showing the journey from nature and humanity to modern technology and new ventures into the unknown. The mix of fluid and modern forms is a metaphor for the UAE: a country rooted in its culture and traditions while constantly evolving.

The UAE aims to grow its science and technology sector and become more of a knowledge-based economy, building a culture of discovery and exploration that gives its dreamers and thinkers room to grow.

It all started with the idea of hope. Inspired by the mission, we looked for a way to turn those feelings into design. A round of brainstorming and sketching led to “the series of hope”, a collection that starts with this rug.

To convey hope, we chose specific moods, colours and textures.

Organic forms representing life reach out, like a hand, towards the orbiter’s wings, which stand for technology, innovation and ambition as the probe travels through space.

The rug is designed to be both sustainable and luxurious. It is made from approximately 15% recycled PET yarn, 25% viscose and 60% wool, and was handmade by a reputed production house in India. The rug was due to be launched at the UAE Designers Exhibition during Dubai Design Week 2021.

Making rugs from recycled PET yarn reduces the impact of plastic bottles on the environment by reusing them. Recycled PET produces 75% less CO2 than virgin polyester, and it gives the look and feel of wool with no synthetic coating.

The rug went on to win an ISOLA Award in 2025, and was shown in the Rising Talents exhibition at Isola Design Festival during Milan Design Week 2026.