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Rare celestial spectacle

UAE, turn your gaze skyward tonight as a rare celestial spectacle unfolds: A total lunar eclipse that will drape the Moon in a deep crimson glow for more than an hour.

From the pristine desert skies at Mleiha National Park’s panoramic lounge to mosques where special prayers are being held, our reporters are on the ground capturing every moment. With photographers stationed at vantage points, expect breathtaking visuals of the dramatic 'blood moon' in real-time.

Follow this live blog for updates, striking images, and on-the-ground experiences as the eclipse gradually darkens, reddens, and then releases the Moon back into the night sky.

Eclipse on your screen

For those unable to witness the lunar eclipse in person, the Dubai Astronomy Group offered a live stream, bringing the celestial spectacle directly to screens across the UAE and beyond.

From the Moon’s first fiery glow to the slow creep of Earth’s shadow, viewers could follow every stunning moment in real time, sharing in the wonder from the comfort of their homes.

Moon's stunning journey

As night fell over the UAE, the Moon began its slow, mesmerising journey across the sky, drawing the eyes of residents from rooftops, balconies, and desert plains alike.

From its first fiery orange glow to the moments when every crater and ridge became visible in stark detail, the lunar eclipse unfolded like a living story.

With each passing minute, the Earth’s shadow crept across the Moon, gradually swallowing more than half of its surface and transforming the familiar orb into a dramatic spectacle of light and shadow.

The significance of tonight's eclipse

Against the backdrop of Sharjah’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, residents from across the UAE gathered at the historic Mleiha site to witness the lunar spectacle. Among them was Gudrun H.,an Austrian living in Dubai, who has visited Mleiha many times for outdoor adventures and stargazing.

“I follow the sky calendar quite closely,” she said, recalling her time in an amateur astronomy club back in Europe. A molecular biologist by profession, Gudrun has witnessed many lunar eclipses abroad, but she said this one felt especially significant — the last total lunar eclipse visible in the UAE occurred seven years ago, making tonight a rare and unforgettable event.

A cosmic sign

On Sunday evening, the Moon’s slow transformation drew the eyes of residents across the UAE, many watching from their apartments as the lunar eclipse unfolded.

The celestial spectacle served as a reminder of Allah’s greatness and power, a cosmic sign that inspired awe and reflection. After the Isha prayer, worshippers emerged from mosques, pausing to capture the Moon in photographs before joining in the special eclipse prayer — a Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) — blending devotion with the wonder of the night sky.

Photo: Waheed Abbas

Slow, stunning progression

With each passing minute, the Earth’s shadow steadily devours the Moon, darkening its surface in a slow, mesmerising progression. Now, more than half of the lunar glow has been swallowed, and it feels only a matter of time before the Moon is completely cloaked in shadow, a breathtaking spectacle unfolding in real time across the night sky.

Check out the video below:

Eclipse prayers begin

As the moon began to darken during the eclipse, Quranic verses echoed from mosques across the UAE, marking the start of special eclipse prayers.

These prayers are being held in mosques after the Isha (night) prayer.

The UAE Council for Fatwa encouraged Muslim men and women to perform the special prayer until 10.30pm.

While many chose to pray in congregation at mosques, others observed the Sunnah by performing the prayer at home.

This special prayer is in line with the tradition (Sunnah) of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

A mesmerising sight

As the lunar eclipse progresses, the Moon seems to be slowly devoured, its glowing surface gradually swallowed by the Earth’s shadow. Minute by minute, it looks as if half of the celestial orb is being eaten, a mesmerising sight that captures the awe of residents watching across the UAE.

Photos: Shihab

Faith meets the cosmos

As the lunar eclipse unfolds across the night sky, residents across the UAE can hear the resonant call of special prayers echoing from mosques, blending devotion with the awe of the celestial spectacle above. From city streets to desert outskirts, the harmonious voices mark a rare moment where faith and the cosmos meet.

Celestial transformation

The shadow creeping across the Moon has grown noticeably larger, darkening more of its surface as the partial eclipse intensifies.

Observers watch in quiet awe as the celestial transformation slowly takes hold, the Moon’s familiar glow gradually giving way to the Earth’s shadow.

Photo: Shihab

Performing Salat al-Kusuf

As the Moon slowly drifts into Earth’s shadow, some devout Muslims will take a moment from skygazing to perform Salat al-Kusuf, the prayer of solar and lunar eclipses.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat (Awqaf) has called on the faithful to observe this prayer on the night of September 7, blending devotion with the awe-inspiring celestial spectacle.

Lunar eclipse begins

The partial eclipse has begun, as a dark shadow slowly creeps across the Moon’s surface. This phase will continue for exactly one hour, until 9.30pm before giving way to the total eclipse — a breathtaking stage expected to last 82 minutes.

Watch as the lunar eclipse unfolds:

Mesmerising spectacle

A faint shadow creeps across the lower left side of the Moon as the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, heralding a rare and mesmerising celestial event — the Blood Moon.

Photos: Shihab

Moving in quiet reverence

After the Isha prayer, people in Sharjah make their way to join the special eclipse prayer, moving in quiet reverence under the night sky. The gathering flows like a river of devotion, each person pausing to witness the celestial spectacle while observing this age-old tradition.

Photo: Waheed Abbas

Walking through Moonlight

A lone visitor crosses in front of the giant screen in Mleiha, Sharjah, his silhouette striking against the glowing projection of the Moon. For a fleeting moment, it looks as if they are walking through moonlight itself — the human form and the celestial body aligning in a dramatic interplay of shadow and light as the lunar eclipse begins to unfold.

Photo: Shihab

Seeking the perfect vantage point

Karen Reynolds, a Dubai resident, made the drive down south from Marina to Mleiha, seeking the perfect vantage point to witness the celestial spectacle, far from the glare of city lights.

"I've observed the moon in an observatory before, but I haven't been to an organised event like this, to see an eclipse," she said.

"It's great. I love the information, the telescopes, and it's just nice, not too much light pollution," she added

Captivated by the Moon

On the day of the lunar eclipse, seven-year-old Maxim, standing on the sandy stretches of Mleiha, Sharjah, peering through his binoculars.

His eyes were fixed on the glowing Moon, its orange hue swelling larger with each passing minute.

Around him, families settled on blankets, whispers fading into hushed anticipation, but Maxim barely noticed anyone else — he was captivated by the Moon’s slow, majestic drift into Earth’s shadow.

Photo: Shihab

Partial eclipse soon

With every crater and curve of the Moon magnified against the darkness, the first stage of the eclipse is officially underway, Prabhakaran Andiappan, education coordinator at Mleiha National Park, told Khaleej Times.

He explained that the penumbral shadow of the Earth has already begun entering through the Moon's path.

In just half an hour, the partial eclipse will take hold, gradually cloaking the Moon and casting a reddish glow along the Earth’s curvature — a transformation that promises to mesmerise observers across the UAE skies.

A dramatic prelude

The Moon glows with a deep orange fire — a dramatic prelude to the coming Blood Moon.

Its warm hue deepens by the minute, casting an ethereal light across the UAE skies. A breathtaking start to one of the year’s most stunning celestial shows.

Photo: Shihab

Under the giant Moon

In Sharjah, the Moon hangs high overhead — vast and radiant, as though suspended just beyond reach. Its brilliance washes over the night, every crater and curve sharpened in astonishing clarity. Magnified against the darkness, it feels impossibly near, overwhelming in its beauty and commanding the gaze of all who look up.

Check out the photos below:

Photos: Muhammad Sajjad

Residents lay in wait

Eager residents ease into the cool embrace of the evening. Some draped in makeshift blankets, others reclining in lawn chairs, all with their faces tilted skyward.

Beneath the vast dome of the night sky, a collective breath hangs suspended — a moment of shared anticipation — as the Moon readies itself for its slow, otherworldly transformation.

Photos: Shihab

Special eclipse prayer

As the Moon begins its slow climb above the horizon — bathed in a fiery orange glow — worshippers were urged to join the special prayerimmediately after Isha (7.50pm) in all mosques across the country, with the prayer time extending until 10.30pm.

Moon rises over UAE

As the Moon rises over the UAE skies, it takes on a striking orange hue — the first visible sign of the much-anticipated lunar eclipse.

A man stands beside his camel as the Moon begins to rise behind them, casting the sky in a soft amber hue. Against the desert backdrop, the unfolding lunar eclipse paints a surreal scene — one that blends tradition with the timeless wonder of the night sky.

Photo: Shihab

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