Abu Dhabi, March 25th, 2006 (WAM) -- Emirates Astronomical Society announced that the UAE and all other Arab countries will see next Wednesday a partial solar eclipse. Some parts of Libya nd Egypt, however, will see a total eclipse.

The longest duration of this total eclipse will be in southern Libya, therefore it will be the best place in the world to watch the event, in good weather conditions, Mohammed Shawkat Awda of the Emirates Astronomical Society said.

The highest percentage of the eclipse will be visible from Ras Al Khaima, with the lowest percent in Al Ain city, he added.

In Abu Dhabi, the eclipse will start 2:22 pm (local time) with the peak of the event on 3:20 pm where up to 32,3 of the solar disc eclipsed.

The end of the celestial show will be on 5:14 pm (local time), he added.

The Emirates Astronomical Society will be providing a public observatory for star gazers, where all safe means of observation are put in service.

The most recent solar eclipse over the UAE took place on October 23, 2004.

The next partial solar eclipse in the UAE, Iraq, the Gulf region and Mesopotamia will be on August 10th. The next opportunity to see the sun totally eclipsed will be on August 20th 2027.