The vanished from Dubai’s night sky on April 28, and with it, Dubai’s official summer season 2026 has begun. The Emirates Astronomy Society confirmed the start of Kannat Al Thuraya, a roughly 40-day period of rising heat, drier conditions, and lower humidity, and the city has already felt the shift.
The period runs from April 28 to June 7, marking the first stage of summer. This is distinct from the scientific astronomical start of summer, which Dr. Ahmad Habib, meteorologist at the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), confirmed falls on June 21, the summer solstice.
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What Is Kannat Al Thuraya?
Al Thuraya is the Arabic name for the Pleiades star cluster, a bright group of stars visible to the naked eye that has been used for navigation, weather tracking, and seasonal calendars for thousands of years. Each year at this point in the calendar, the cluster aligns closely with the sun and disappears from the night sky entirely. Its disappearance is the traditional marker that summer has started.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, explained that this roughly 40-day period carries several traditional names, including Al Kanna, Al Ghuyoub, and the setting of the Pleiades.
What to Expect During Dubai’s Official Summer Season 2026
The shift is not just celestial. It is immediate and physical for anyone in the city. Temperatures will start rising sharply in the weeks ahead. Hotter days, drier conditions, and lower humidity are now the pattern. Northern and northwesterly winds are likely to pick up, while the mild spring weather that has been passing through will gradually fade.
This Kannat Al Thuraya phase is considered the early indicator of the peak summer heat that follows, not the worst of it. It is the warm-up period, not yet the main event.
Then Comes Al Qayz—Dubai’s Most Intense Heat Season
When the Pleiades reappear in Dubai’s eastern sky on June 7, Al Qayz begins. This is peak summer, lasting from the reappearance of the Pleiades until the rise of Suhail (Canopus), and it is traditionally associated with extreme heat, aridity, and harsh desert conditions.
Kannat Al Thuraya is the early signal. Al Qayz is the main event.
The Bedouin Roots Behind the Calendar
This seasonal system has been in place for centuries. Bedouin communities used the Pleiades to track weather, plan travel, and guide daily life throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Seafarers traditionally warned of sudden weather disturbances known as “Bawlat Al-Thurayya,” believed to occur roughly ten days prior to the stars’ disappearance. Historically, people also avoided practices like cupping therapy (hijama) and animal branding during this period, and took care not to overwork their camels. If a camel fell ill at this time, it was said to have been strained during the Ghuyoub.
In Arab folklore, the Pleiades carried a practical promise: “When it shines at dusk, it brings the rains.”
Ancient Stars, Very Real Heat
Dubai’s official summer season 2026 is marked not by a calendar date but by a star cluster that has been guiding life in this region for thousands of years. Whether you are planning outdoor activities or just trying to figure out when the worst of the heat peaks, the stars already have the answer.
Stay hydrated, rethink midday outdoor plans, and if a trip abroad has been on your list, this is your cue.
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