UAE’s Darkest Spot Reveals A Rare View Of The Milky Way

Al Quaa Desert (UAE) : The shimmering skyscrapers and bright lights of the United Arab Emirates attract the attention of anyone who travels there; It’s a sign of the Arabian Peninsula country’s rapid oil-driven development over the past decade into a major trade and tourism hub.

But something was lost during this period: a clear view of the stars in the night sky across almost the entire inhabited territory of the country, which once guided the Bedouins through the shifting desert dunes of the vast interior known as the Empty Quarter.

A group of volunteers from the Dubai Astronomy Group have recently been helping people reconnect with the view of the stars and the Milky Way by taking them on night trips to the Al Quaa Desert, one of the darkest spots left in the Emirates.

“It makes us appreciate our presence in this galaxy,” Sheeraz Awan, the astronomy group’s executive director, said in late May as he guided participants through the weekend’s view of the stars.

Light pollution plagues the UAE

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The UAE, along with other Gulf Arab countries whose population largely lives in large cities, is among the countries with the most light pollution in the world.

A 2016 scientific study concluded that “humanity has shrouded our planet in a bright fog” and suggested that 99% of the Emirati population cannot see the Milky Way from their homes due to artificial lights.

This illumination ranges from street lights on roads to the LED light show that thrills tourists at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building. Abu Dhabi plans to build a $1.7 billion version of Las Vegas attraction Sphere on Yas Island.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, have acknowledged the problem of light pollution and have developed what they call the “Dark Sky Policy” on lighting and other issues across the emirate in 2024. More and more buildings in Dubai are using LED screens and LED billboards are becoming more common. Emirati officials did not respond to a request for comment, but Dubai is also home to the Al Qudra Lakes, a rural area with less light pollution.

Hunting darkness in the remote deserts of Abu Dhabi

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The lights of the city do not reach the Al Quaa Desert.

The desert is easily reached by vehicle along a major highway that leads to the oasis city of Al Ain, about 100 kilometers (62 mi) southeast of Abu Dhabi city, then along another road that runs south into the desert.

Despite the road lights in the area known as Razeen Alley, with a highly illuminated prison located along the way, the desert lies in pitch darkness, unburdened by the bright illumination of the city. Razeen Road finally heads east, but an automatic gate opens allowing drivers to enter an unpaved road leading deep into the desert.

Kilometers (miles) further, astronomers gathered dozens of people to view the stars, passing dune campers and enjoying the last of the nice night weather before the UAE’s summer high temperatures of nearly 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

They were not alone. Several workers under heavy blankets were sleeping under the stars in the back of a pickup truck nearby. Under a small LED lamp indicating where to park, Solifugae, better known as the camel spider, ate another camel spider after a long struggle. The creature briefly ran toward a journalist and a volunteer before the vibrations of an approaching car sent it racing into the darkness. Then everyone around looked carefully at their steps.

I’m looking at the stars

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Families speaking Arabic, English and Russian on carpets laid out for a weekend trip in May looked up at the sky. The half moon slowly began to appear on the horizon. Soon the outlines of the Milky Way began to be visible to the naked eye.

Awan asked, “Can you see that faint cloud when you look east?” he asked. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Milky Way.”

He used a laser point to highlight the string of stars, prompting a woman to exclaim, “Oh yeah!” made him shout.

Dubai Astronomy Group volunteers described this as one of the best times of the year to see the galaxy. Many gasped at the sight of meteors occasionally streaking across the sky, easily visible in the dark without the interference of city lights.

Some gathered around telescopes to look at individual stars. Others were lying on the cold desert sand, getting tips on how to take long-exposure photos with their cell phones to see the galaxy twinkling overhead. Over time, people slowly got into their cars and started heading towards the illuminated highways and cities of the UAE.

For a moment they were preoccupied with the night, as the Bedouins before them had done.

“When we look at this Milky Way, we’re kind of engaging in activity that’s not new,” Awan told stargazers. “This is something that people have engaged with throughout time.”