City lights of Jeddah and Mecca at night, photographed from the International Space Station in March 2023 (Image: NASA)

Solar Eclipse 2 August 2027 in Jeddah: Exact Times, Totality and Where to Watch

Yes, Jeddah sees a total solar eclipse on Monday 2 August 2027. In the historic centre, Al-Balad, totality lasts about 5 minutes 58 seconds, from 13:22:24 to 13:28:22 Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3), with the Sun 76° high, almost overhead, a little to the west-south-west. The partial eclipse starts at about 12:00 and ends at 14:44. Jeddah sits about 95 km inside the northern edge of the path of totality, so the whole city sees it: from about 5 min 43 s at the airport in the north to just over 6 minutes in the south of the city. Before planning a trip, read the current travel advice below: since 27 October 2026 the UK government advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia.

Last updated: 1 November 2026 (travel advice checked 1 November 2026)

Jeddah is the largest city in the path of totality in Saudi Arabia, with 3,751,722 residents in the Jeddah governorate at the 2022 census. For residents, this is the eclipse of a lifetime on their doorstep. Below are our exact times for twelve places in and around the city, what published sources say, where to watch, the heat and dust, and how to watch safely.

What is the travel advice for Saudi Arabia before the eclipse?

On 27 October 2026 the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its advice because of regional tensions. It now advises against all travel within 10 km of the border with Yemen and against "all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia", which includes Jeddah. It names Jeddah among the places, with Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Dammam and Yanbu, where airports and other sites face a heightened threat, reports that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh "was struck by a missile on 10 October 2026", and warns that "Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice". The page was still current on 31 October 2026. The US State Department rates Saudi Arabia at Level 3, "Reconsider Travel" (updated 23 October 2026).

Advice can change in both directions in the nine months before the eclipse. If you live outside Saudi Arabia, check your own government's advice and your insurer before booking anything non-refundable, and again before you travel. If you live in Jeddah, everything below applies to you directly.

What time is the eclipse in Jeddah on 2 August 2027?

All times are local (AST, UTC+3), to the second, from our own calculation. The partial eclipse runs for about 2 hours 43 minutes, and totality falls in the middle of it, in the early afternoon.

Place Partial eclipse starts Totality starts Maximum Totality ends Partial eclipse ends Totality lasts
Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah) 12:00:30 13:22:24 13:25:23 13:28:22 14:43:49 5 min 58 s
Jeddah Waterfront (Corniche) 12:00:14 13:22:09 13:25:08 13:28:05 14:43:35 5 min 57 s
Corniche opposite King Fahd's Fountain 12:00:22 13:22:16 13:25:16 13:28:15 14:43:43 5 min 58 s
South Jeddah (Al Khumrah) 12:00:43 13:22:36 13:25:39 13:28:41 14:44:04 6 min 05 s
King Abdulaziz International Airport 12:00:08 13:22:07 13:24:59 13:27:51 14:43:25 5 min 43 s
Obhur 11:59:56 13:21:55 13:24:47 13:27:38 14:43:15 5 min 44 s
Thuwal (KAUST) 11:59:05 13:21:47 13:23:46 13:25:44 14:42:10 3 min 57 s
Mecca (Masjid al-Haram) 12:02:02 13:24:09 13:26:41 13:29:13 14:44:45 5 min 04 s
Taif (published values differ) 12:03:36 13:26:08 13:28:02 13:29:57 14:45:46 3 min 49 s
Al Lith 12:05:01 13:26:43 13:29:49 13:32:53 14:47:40 6 min 11 s
Rabigh (outside the path) 11:58:14 no totality 13:22:46 no totality 14:41:09 partial, 99.96%
Medina (outside the path) 11:57:19 no totality 13:20:53 no totality 14:38:36 partial, 94.5%

Our calculation with Skyfield and the JPL DE421 ephemeris, for each place at sea level (smooth lunar limb). Published values for Jeddah: the Saudi Space Agency gives about 5 min 50 s for Jeddah and parts of the west coast; Wikipedia's table 5 min 53 s (13:22:21 to 13:28:14); solar-eclipse.info 5 min 55 s; Majed Abu Zahira of the Jeddah Astronomical Society about 5 min 55 s; Space.com 5 min 58 s at 13:21; eclipse-solaire.fr 6 min 3 s. Most do not say which point of the city they used, which explains most of the spread. Some reports give 13:25 as the start of totality: that is the time of maximum eclipse; totality starts about three minutes earlier. For Taif, at the edge of the path in the mountains, published values range from about 2 minutes (Wikipedia) to our 3 min 49 s: treat Taif as uncertain.

For the rest of Saudi Arabia and the world, see our eclipse times in 125 cities and the path of totality map, country by country.

Where is Jeddah in the path of totality?

Comfortably inside it. The northern limit of totality runs from the Red Sea coast just south of Rabigh (which sees 99.96% of the Sun covered, but no totality) towards the south-east, passing north-east of Mecca and close to Taif. Jeddah is about 95 km inside that line, and totality gets longer as you go south: about 5 min 43 s at the airport and in Obhur, 5 min 58 s in Al-Balad and just over 6 minutes in the south of the city. Further down the coast, Al Lith gets about 6 min 11 s. Thuwal, home of KAUST, is closer to the edge with about 3 min 57 s. Medina is outside the path, with about 94.5% of the Sun covered.

Map: Jeddah in the path of totality, 2 August 2027 Map of the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia around Jeddah with the shaded path of totality and its northern limit, which runs from just south of Rabigh towards Taif, with totality durations: Jeddah 5 min 58 s, airport 5 min 43 s, Thuwal 3 min 57 s, Mecca 5 min 04 s, Taif 3 min 49 s; Rabigh is just outside the path with 99.96% of the Sun covered.JeddahAirportThuwalRabighMeccaTaif5 min 58 s5 min 43 s3 min 57 s99.96%5 min 04 s3 min 49 sTotal eclipse (path of totality)Northern limit of totalityTember calculation (Skyfield, DE421). Coastline: Natural Earth
Jeddah lies well inside the path of totality, about 95 km from its northern edge. Durations are our calculation for each place.

Where is the best place to watch the eclipse in Jeddah?

Almost anywhere with open sky. At totality the Sun stands about 76° above the horizon, nearly overhead, so buildings will rarely block it; what matters more is shade before and after totality, space, and how you get home.

  • The Corniche and the Jeddah Waterfront: the Corniche runs for about 30 km along the Red Sea, and the Waterfront section, opened in November 2017, has 4.2 km of promenade. Open sky in every direction, and the sea breeze helps a little with the heat.
  • Opposite King Fahd's Fountain: the 312 m fountain, listed by Guinness World Records as the tallest in the world, makes a memorable foreground for photos during totality.
  • Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah): the UNESCO World Heritage site "Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah", inscribed in 2014. The lanes between the old houses are narrow; with the Sun this high you will still see it from most squares and open spaces, but choose your spot in advance.
  • South Jeddah: the longest totality in the city, just over 6 minutes, if you have a safe open space there.

Whatever the spot, the glasses stay on for the whole partial phase. Our guide on how to use eclipse glasses safely explains the routine.

How hot will it be, and will dust spoil the view?

It will be very hot. August in Jeddah averages a high of 38.7 °C and a low of 28.6 °C, with about 59% humidity (1991 to 2020 normals, NOAA and the Jeddah Regional Climate Center, as compiled on Wikipedia), and totality comes at about 13:22, close to the hottest part of the day. Plan shade, water and a short time outdoors. The Saudi Ministry of Health's first aid for sunstroke starts with "Move the affected person to a cool place", cooling with cold compresses and water, and calling an ambulance immediately.

Cloud is not the main worry. Jay Anderson's Eclipsophile, the standard reference on eclipse weather, says the coastal Tihamah plain "remains sunny with August's average cloud cover of just over 10 percent", while clouds build over the mountains inland. The problem is dust: "The greatest problem for otherwise suitable sites in Saudi Arabia is dust", the Tihamah plain has the highest average aerosol levels along the whole track, and "the regions south of Jeddah stand out with their dusty skies". A dusty sky can make the corona look paler. Watch the forecast in the days before.

Tember eclipse glasses in four frame colours (Photo: Tember)
Certified eclipse glasses for the partial phases before and after totality (Photo: Tember)

How do you get to Jeddah and move around on eclipse day?

  • By air: King Abdulaziz International Airport handled a record 53.4 million passengers in 2025. The airport is itself in the path, with about 5 min 43 s of totality. Note the FCDO's warning about threats to airports and possible disruption.
  • By train: the Haramain High Speed Railway stops at the airport and at Al-Sulimaniyah station in Jeddah, and links Jeddah with Mecca and Medina.
  • Visas: Saudi Arabia's official tourist eVisa portal offers a one-year, multiple-entry visa for citizens of 66 countries, with stays of up to 90 days per visit. Check the fee and conditions on the official portal when you apply.
  • In the city: the Jeddah Metro is still only planned, so on eclipse day you will be travelling by road. Leave early.

On the calendar, 2 August 2027 is Monday 29 Safar 1449 (Umm al-Qura), far from Ramadan and from Hajj (Eid al-Adha falls on 16 to 20 May 2027). Saudi schools will be on their summer holiday: the 1448 school year ends on 24 June 2027, according to Okaz.

Is anything planned in Jeddah for eclipse day?

No official events had been announced as of 1 November 2026. The Saudi Space Agency has published safety guidance, urging people to watch only with certified eclipse glasses or properly filtered equipment, and it gives about 5 min 50 s of totality for Jeddah and the west coast. Majed Abu Zahira, president of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, has called for viewing sites and events to be coordinated early. We will add official viewing sites to this page when they are announced.

When can you take your eclipse glasses off in Jeddah?

Only during totality: from about 13:22 to 13:28 in the city centre, when the Moon covers the Sun completely. Before that, from about 12:00, and after it until 14:44, you are watching a partial eclipse and need eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2. The Saudi Ministry of Health says the same: the only safe way to look at a solar eclipse is with glasses made to ISO 12312-2, and normal sunglasses, "even the darkest of them", are not safe. Put your glasses back on as soon as the first bright point of sunlight returns. In Rabigh, Medina or anywhere outside the path there is no totality, and the glasses never come off.

The ministry also advises against glasses that are scratched, wrinkled or "more than three years old". The standard itself sets no fixed shelf life; our article on whether eclipse glasses can be reused explains what to check, and ISO 12312-2 explained shows how to check a certificate.

Tember eclipse glasses are certified to EN ISO 12312-2:2015 and carry the CE mark; the certificate and test reports are on our compliance documents page. They come in packs of 4 to 100 pairs. See the glasses.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jeddah in the path of totality in 2027?

Yes. The whole city is inside the path of the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, about 95 km from its northern edge. Totality lasts about 5 minutes 58 seconds in Al-Balad, the historic centre.

What time is the solar eclipse in Jeddah?

The partial eclipse starts at about 12:00 AST (UTC+3), totality runs from about 13:22 to 13:28 with maximum at 13:25, and the partial eclipse ends at about 14:44, on Monday 2 August 2027.

How long is totality in Jeddah?

About 5 minutes 58 seconds in the centre by our calculation, from about 5 min 43 s at the airport to just over 6 minutes in the south of the city. The Saudi Space Agency gives about 5 minutes 50 seconds for Jeddah and the west coast.

Is it safe to travel to Jeddah for the eclipse?

Since 27 October 2026 the UK government advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah, and the US rates the country at Level 3, "Reconsider Travel". Check your own government's current advice and your travel insurance before booking.

Will Medina or Rabigh see a total eclipse?

No. Both are just outside the path: Rabigh sees about 99.96% of the Sun covered and Medina about 94.5%. Eclipse glasses stay on for the whole eclipse there.

Can I look at the eclipse without glasses in Jeddah?

Only during the roughly six minutes of totality. For the partial phases before and after, from about 12:00 to 14:44, use eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2.

Sources

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