Sun to align directly above Holy Kaaba on Day of Arafat

A rare astronomical event is expected to coincide with one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar this year, as the sun is set to align directly above the Holy Kaaba in Makkah on the Day of Arafat.

According to astronomers, the phenomenon is expected to take place at noon on May 27, 2026, which corresponds to the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah 1447H. At that moment, the sun will be positioned directly above the Holy Kaaba, causing shadows in Makkah to disappear completely during the alignment.

Experts say the sun’s position over the Holy Kaaba is a natural occurrence that typically happens twice a year due to Makkah’s location near latitude 21.4° north, as the sun’s apparent movement shifts between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer.

What makes this instance notable is its coincidence with the Day of Arafat, a rare overlap last seen in 1993.

Astronomers explain that such timing happens due to the difference between the lunar Hijri calendar and the solar Gregorian calendar, which align roughly once every 33 years.

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia has emphasised that the event is a normal astronomical phenomenon and should not be associated with unusual temperature changes, noting that it is part of the sun’s regular seasonal movement.