Arab World to Witness Rare 82-Minute Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday

Skywatchers across the Arab world are set to experience a rare celestial spectacle on Sunday evening, as a total lunar eclipse will unfold over the region. The International Astronomical Centre confirmed that the phenomenon will be visible across varying degrees from the eastern to western Arab world, with the event livestreamed from the Al Khattm Astronomical Observatory in the UAE.

The live broadcast will run from 7:30 p.m. to 11:50 p.m. UAE time, offering viewers a chance to follow each stage of the eclipse in real time. The moon will rise above the eastern horizon before the shadow begins, while observers in central areas will witness the eclipse already underway. In the western Arab world, the moon will appear during the latter phases of the event, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

According to the International Astronomical Centre’s timeline, the eclipse will begin at 7:28 p.m. when the moon enters Earth’s penumbra. The partial eclipse will follow at 8:27 p.m., with totality beginning at 9:31 p.m. and peaking at 10:12 p.m. The total eclipse will end at 10:53 p.m., while the entire event will conclude at 12:55 a.m. Monday.

Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Odah, Director of the Centre, noted that the moon will be clearly visible to the naked eye from 8:15 p.m. until 12:15 a.m. During totality, the lunar surface may shift in color from orange to deep red, caused by sunlight refracting through Earth’s atmosphere. Odah explained that these hues also reflect atmospheric purity, with increased pollution or volcanic activity darkening the moon significantly. He recalled the eclipse of December 1992, when the moon nearly disappeared from view following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo the year before.

Across the wider region, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the eclipse will last a total of five hours and 27 minutes. The totality phase will span 82 minutes, marking one of the longest lunar eclipses since 2018, according to Majed Abu Zahra, Director of the Jeddah Astronomy Society. The event will also be visible across much of Asia, Australia, and parts of Europe and Africa.

In the UAE, the occasion carries not only scientific interest but also spiritual significance. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat in Abu Dhabi has called on Muslims to perform the Eclipse Prayer on Sunday evening, in line with Islamic tradition. The UAE Council for Fatwa added that the prayer is recommended for all adult Muslims, regardless of whether the eclipse is partial or total.

With clear skies expected in much of the region, Sunday’s lunar eclipse offers both a rare astronomical event and an opportunity for reflection — a blend of science and spirituality under the night sky.