Next year promises to be a spectacular one for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts in the UAE, with a line up of celestial events that will light up the night skies.
From annual meteor showers to a rare total lunar eclipse visible in the country, there will be plenty of reasons to look skywards.
More residents are embracing stargazing as a hobby, inspired by the nation’s growing achievements in space exploration and its ambitious plans for lunar missions.
“2025 will be an exciting year for astronomy lovers in the UAE,” said Khadijah Ahmed, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group. "We’ll witness meteor showers, planetary alignments, supermoons and even a total lunar eclipse will be visible. These events are not just fascinating but also offer a chance to connect with the wonders of the universe."
The organisation shared some of the top celestial events with The National that will grace the country’s skies in the coming year.
Meteor showers
Several meteor showers are set to light up the night-sky, offering breathtaking views of shooting stars.
The Quadrantids will be visible from December 26 but they peak on January 3 and 4.
They originate from the 2003 EH1, which is an asteroid or a possible comet. The shower is known to produce bright fireball meteors.
The next meteor shower in the Emirates will not take place until August, when the Perseids light up the skies on August 12 and 13.
This year during the Perseids, up to 100 meteors per hour passed across the skies, entering the Earth’s atmosphere at such high speeds that they created bright, explosive flashes of light.
Orionids will follow on October 21 and 22, followed by the Leonids on November 17 and 18.
Geminids will be the final meteor shower of the year, peaking on December 13 and 14. They are among the best to observe, with 120 visible meteors each hour when the event is at its most intense.
“These meteor showers are visible without any equipment and are best viewed away from city lights,” said Ms Ahmed.
The Dubai Astronomy Group usually holds viewing events for a fee for most of the meteor showers, with telescopes available.
Lunar and solar eclipses
One of the most anticipated events of the year is the total lunar eclipse on September 7.
The Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, turning a deep reddish colour.
“This is one of the rare astronomical events happening in the UAE in 2025,” said Ms Ahmed.
“We will host an event for the eclipse and encourage everyone to witness it. You don’t need any special equipment – just go outside and look up."
A partial solar eclipse will be visible only in the Southern Hemisphere on March 29, however, the Dubai Astronomy Group will live-stream this event.
Supermoons
The year will feature three supermoons visible in the UAE, during which the Moon appears larger and brighter than usual due to its proximity to Earth.
The Hunter’s Supermoon on October 7, the Beaver Supermoon on November 5 and the Cold Supermoon on December 4 will offer mesmerising views.
Planetary alignments and oppositions
One of the standout events of the year will be the planetary alignment on January 11. Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn will all line up in the evening sky shortly after sunset.
While Neptune and Uranus may be challenging to spot without telescopes, the other planets will be easily visible to the naked eye.
“This alignment is a remarkable sight that doesn’t happen often,” said Ms Ahmed. "We’ll host an event for it to guide people in observing this unique celestial phenomenon."
Additionally, the oppositions of Mars (January 16), Saturn (September 21) and Jupiter (December 7) will offer ideal opportunities to view these planets at their brightest and closest to Earth.
