Solar & Daylight Data
Daylight & Orientation: Dubai, UAE
How to research daylight & orientation for a specific site in Dubai — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.
On this page
Last updated September 2, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames AE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/AE.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 292223). Regulatory starting point: [UAE Government overview of local building authorities](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/justice-safety-and-the-law/building-safety). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: [NREL Solar Position Algorithm](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/).
Direct answer
For Dubai at 25.0772, 55.3093, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 88.4° at the June solstice, 64.9° at an equinox and 41.5° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 292223 in administrative area 03, at 25.0772, 55.3093; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 88.4° at the June solstice, 64.9° at an equinox and 41.5° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 10.4 hours in December to 13.6 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this daylight and building orientation record.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Harth team · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.
What must be verified for Dubai?
Dubai is represented here at approximately 25.0772, 55.3093 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.
How should daylight and building orientation be established?
- Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
- Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
- Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
- Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
- Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
|---|---|---|
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was applicability confirmed with the authority? |
What are the limits of this worksheet?
This daylight-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Dubai site remain authoritative.
Dubai monthly daylight-orientation ledger
| Representative date | Geometric daylight | Solar sunrise | Solar sunset | Sunrise hour angle | Noon bearing | Change from prior month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | 10.683 h | 06.66 | 17.34 | 80.12° | 180.0° | +0.244 h |
| 21 February | 11.289 h | 06.36 | 17.64 | 84.67° | 180.0° | +0.607 h |
| 21 March | 11.975 h | 06.01 | 17.99 | 89.81° | 180.0° | +0.685 h |
| 21 April | 12.734 h | 05.63 | 18.37 | 95.50° | 180.0° | +0.759 h |
| 21 May | 13.317 h | 05.34 | 18.66 | 99.88° | 180.0° | +0.584 h |
| 21 June | 13.562 h | 05.22 | 18.78 | 101.71° | 180.0° | +0.244 h |
| 21 July | 13.339 h | 05.33 | 18.67 | 100.04° | 180.0° | -0.222 h |
| 21 August | 12.745 h | 05.63 | 18.37 | 95.59° | 180.0° | -0.594 h |
| 21 September | 11.987 h | 06.01 | 17.99 | 89.91° | 180.0° | -0.758 h |
| 21 October | 11.255 h | 06.37 | 17.63 | 84.41° | 180.0° | -0.732 h |
| 21 November | 10.661 h | 06.67 | 17.33 | 79.96° | 180.0° | -0.594 h |
| 21 December | 10.438 h | 06.78 | 17.22 | 78.29° | 180.0° | -0.222 h |
Orientation checks prompted by the Dubai ledger
The representative daylight span runs from 10.438 hours on 21 December to 13.562 hours on 21 June. Solar sunrise and sunset are expressed in apparent solar time, not a time-zone clock. The noon-bearing column is a true-north azimuth screen and becomes unstable when the sun passes close to zenith.
For Dubai at 25.0772°, 55.3093°, test each occupied facade against the actual horizon, adjacent buildings, glazing, room depth and target illuminance. This ledger describes geometric availability only; it does not estimate irradiance, daylight autonomy, glare or energy. Refine project-date positions with the NREL SPA.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
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- Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Abu Dhabi, UAE
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- Sun Path: Al Shamkhah City, UAE
- Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Al Shamkhah City, UAE
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- Sun Path: Umm Al Quwain City, UAE
- Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Umm Al Quwain City, UAE
- Solar Shading Design: Umm Al Quwain City, UAE
- Daylight & Orientation: Umm Al Quwain City, UAE
- Sun Path: Dibba Al-Fujairah, UAE
- Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Dibba Al-Fujairah, UAE
- Solar Shading Design: Dibba Al-Fujairah, UAE
- Daylight & Orientation: Dibba Al-Fujairah, UAE
- All solar & daylight data guidance for United Arab Emirates
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- House Construction Cost Planning: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames AE dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 292223). Regulatory starting point: UAE Government overview of local building authorities. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: NREL Solar Position Algorithm.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does the daylight and building orientation record for Dubai establish?
The daylight and building orientation record for Dubai establishes a reproducible discovery point at 25.0772, 55.3093 (GeoNames ID 292223, administrative area 03) and a United Arab Emirates source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.
What must be replaced before using this daylight and building orientation workflow for a project in Dubai?
For the daylight and building orientation record in Dubai, replace the 25.0772, 55.3093 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under emirate- and municipality-specific building regulations and permit systems. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.
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