Solar & Daylight Data
Solar Altitude & Azimuth: International City, UAE
How to research solar altitude & azimuth for a specific site in International City — 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 8469668). 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 International City at 25.1638, 55.4099, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 88.3° at the June solstice, 64.8° at an equinox and 41.4° 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 8469668 in administrative area 03, at 25.1638, 55.4099; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 88.3° at the June solstice, 64.8° at an equinox and 41.4° 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 solar altitude and azimuth record.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.
What must be verified for International City?
International City is represented here at approximately 25.1638, 55.4099 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 solar altitude and azimuth 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 solar-angle-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the International City site remain authoritative.
International City monthly solar geometry check for solar altitude & azimuth
| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | -20.14° | 44.70° | 10.677 h | 1.011 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 53.61° | 11.287 h | 0.737 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 64.43° | 11.975 h | 0.478 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 76.42° | 12.736 h | 0.242 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 84.97° | 13.323 h | 0.088 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 88.29° | 13.568 h | 0.030 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 85.28° | 13.345 h | 0.083 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 76.59° | 12.748 h | 0.238 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 64.63° | 11.987 h | 0.474 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 53.08° | 11.252 h | 0.751 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 44.39° | 10.655 h | 1.021 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 41.39° | 10.432 h | 1.135 |
International City solar-geometry fingerprint at 25.1638, 55.4099
- International City, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 44.70°, zenith 45.30°, geometric daylight 10.677 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.011.
- International City, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 53.61°, zenith 36.39°, geometric daylight 11.287 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.737.
- International City, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 64.43°, zenith 25.57°, geometric daylight 11.975 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.478.
- International City, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 76.42°, zenith 13.58°, geometric daylight 12.736 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.242.
- International City, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 84.97°, zenith 5.03°, geometric daylight 13.323 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.088.
- International City, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 88.29°, zenith 1.71°, geometric daylight 13.568 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.030.
- International City, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 85.28°, zenith 4.72°, geometric daylight 13.345 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.083.
- International City, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 76.59°, zenith 13.41°, geometric daylight 12.748 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.238.
- International City, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 64.63°, zenith 25.37°, geometric daylight 11.987 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.474.
- International City, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 53.08°, zenith 36.92°, geometric daylight 11.252 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.751.
- International City, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 44.39°, zenith 45.61°, geometric daylight 10.655 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.021.
- International City, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 41.39°, zenith 48.61°, geometric daylight 10.432 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.135.
Harth computed the International City fingerprint for latitude 25.1638° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude 55.4099° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
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- House Construction Cost Planning: International City, United Arab Emirates
- Office Construction Cost Planning: International City, United Arab Emirates
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- School Construction Cost Planning: International City, United Arab Emirates
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames AE dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 8469668). 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 solar altitude and azimuth record for International City establish?
The solar altitude and azimuth record for International City establishes a reproducible discovery point at 25.1638, 55.4099 (GeoNames ID 8469668, 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 solar altitude and azimuth workflow for a project in International City?
For the solar altitude and azimuth record in International City, replace the 25.1638, 55.4099 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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