From April 13 to 20, the world observes International Dark Sky Week, a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of the harmful effects of light pollution and restoring the visibility of the natural night sky.
Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Majed Abu Zahra stated that the month of April was carefully selected, as it coincides with the absence of moonlight during this period.
He explained that this lunar darkness provides ideal conditions for observing faint celestial objects and capturing images of the Milky Way galaxy with exceptional clarity, free from urban light pollution.
He emphasized that the Arab region, and particularly the Kingdom, has begun to play a leading role in protecting dark skies through sites officially accredited by DarkSky International.
He noted that AlUla’s reserves are the first in the Arabian Gulf region to receive this accreditation, including exceptional locations such as Gharameel Reserve and AlUla Manara, where distinctive rock formations combine with exceptionally clear night skies.
Furthermore, the Great Nafud Desert received official accreditation in December 2025 as one of the largest dark-sky sites in the world, covering an area exceeding 13,000 square kilometers.
