Riyadh: On August 2, 2027, the world will witness one of the longest total solar eclipses of the 21st century-a rare astronomical event not seen in Saudi Arabia for over 75 years that will temporarily turn daylight into darkness.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the path of totality will cross large parts of western and southern Saudi Arabia, placing the Kingdom in a strategic global position for observation, while neighboring Egypt is expected to record the maximum duration. The Saudi Space Agency stated that total darkness will last approximately six minutes in southern areas like Abha, and about five minutes and 50 seconds in Jeddah and parts of the western coast, offering researchers and enthusiasts a prime opportunity to study the solar corona.

Meanwhile, the central, eastern, and northern regions of the Kingdom will experience a partial solar eclipse with obscuration reaching up to 80%, with exact timings and coverage varying by location. The Saudi Space Agency emphasized the critical importance of following safety guidelines, urging observers to avoid looking directly at the sun without specialized protective glasses or filtered binoculars.