DUBAI //Just before sunrise today a bright light in the night sky will signal the end of the summer heat and a return to more moderate weather.
At least, that is what the star of Suhail used to mean, before global climate change became involved.
Visible due south in the early hours before sunrise, Suhail, also known as Canopus, is the second brightest star in the sky after Sirius, and has always held a great significance to the people of the Middle East.
"Suhail's appearance means the beginning of the end of summer: the days begin to get shorter and temperatures begin to decrease," explained Rashad Bukhash, the director of the architectural heritage department at Dubai Municipality.
"Back in the day, many people used to say the water in their wells was hot the day before Suhail appeared and cool the next day."
But do not turn your hot water tanks back on just yet, because tracking of the star by a local astronomer over the past seven years seems to suggest global warming has taken away its twinkle.
Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group, has been monitoring Suhail's rise since 2004 - specifically because the rise marks the start of the farmer's agricultural, or droror, calendar.
The droror agricultural calendar begins with the sighting of Suhail and is then measured in 10 or 13-day micro-seasons known as dir.
Between 70 and 80 days after Suhail appears, camel grazing, studding and palm pollination can commence.
"It is not as accurate as it was in the old times due to global changes in the weather," said Mr Al Hariri, who described the change as "huge and unbelievable".
A common joke among elders these days, he said, is: "Did your calendar work this year?"
"We are joking with each other, but also trying to observe the difference and see how it can be compensated for," Mr Al Hariri said.
"We're trying to make the system survive but it isn't surviving."
If meteorologists' predictions are right, Mr Al Hariri and the farmers are in for more disappointment this year: temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-40s for at least the next two weeks.
"Most of people who use the calendar system have died," admitted Mr Al Hariri. But he and those who remember the tradition want very much to find a way to keep it alive.
The star, which appears every year about this time and stays visible in the night sky until May, has been observed by populations dating as far back as the Ancient Egyptians.
The appearance of Suhail also traditionally marks the start of the hunting season, Mr Bukhash said, because hunters in those days had to endure days of travelling through the desert.
"Suhail is very often mentioned in Arab poetry, stories, and Bedouin sayings. Many people considered it to have healing powers. Since the weather improves when the star is in the sky, people feel healthier and so they attributed it to the star," added Mr Bukhash.
Despite the star's popularity and significance in the east, it remains obscure in western culture. This, presumably, because it was not visible to the Romans or the Ancient Greeks.
The northern limit of visibility for the star is latitude 37°18' north, which is just south of cities like Athens and San Francisco.
"It was considered good luck by pearl divers and many travellers used it for navigation as well as finding the direction of Mecca so they could pray," said Mr Bukhash.
Suhail is still used in navigation today. Its brightness and location make it popular for space navigation. Many spacecrafts, including those used by Nasa, carry a special camera known as a Canopus Star Tracker.
malkhan@thenational.ae
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MATCH INFO
Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)
Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no
Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)
Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9
Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
KYLIAN MBAPPE 2016/17 STATS
Ligue 1: Appearances - 29, Goals - 15, Assists - 8
UCL: Appearances - 9, Goals - 6
French Cup: Appearances - 3, Goals - 3
France U19: Appearances - 5, Goals - 5, Assists - 1
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'