Best Locations for Astrophotography in UAE (2026)
Dubai is a city of lights. Great for tourism, terrible for astronomy. To capture the Milky Way, you need a Bortle Scale rating of 3 or lower.
1. Al Quaa Milky Way Spot (Abu Dhabi)
The darkest spot accessible by car. It is an "open secret" among photographers.
- Bortle: 2-3.
- Access: Sedan accessible (mostly).
2. Shawka Dam (Ras Al Khaimah)
Closer to Dubai (1 hour drive). Good for star trails, but the horizon has some glow.
- Bortle: 4.
3. Liwa Desert (The Empty Quarter)
If you have a 4x4 and camping gear, this is world-class.
- Bortle: 1 (Pitch black).
Planning Your Shoot
Use Astro Track to check:
- Moon Phase: You want a New Moon (0% illumination).
- Galactic Core Visibility: The Milky Way core is only visible in summer months.