ubai, the largest metropolitan area in the emirate of Dubai, is one of the most visually striking cities on Earth—especially when viewed from space. Known for its futuristic skyline, artificial islands, and extravagant architecture, the city is a favorite subject for astronaut photography. From the International Space Station (ISS), Dubai’s unique offshore developments, such as the Palm Jumeirah, become fully visible, revealing their intricate designs that can only be appreciated from above.
Captured with a high-sensitivity digital camera and a long focal-length lens, this nighttime image of Dubai highlights the city's well-planned urban structure. The highways and major roads, defined by yellow-orange lighting, create a sharp contrast against the darker surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, commercial and residential areas appear as a speckled pattern of white, blue, and yellow-orange lights.
Several highly illuminated landmarks stand out, including the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 828 meters (2,717 feet), as well as major hotel and shopping complexes. The brightly lit city contrasts dramatically with the dark waters of the Persian Gulf to the northwest and the largely undeveloped desert to the southeast.
Dubai's famous artificial islands, including Palm Jumeirah, are partially illuminated in this image. The clusters of lights represent the developed sections of the archipelago, while the darker areas indicate ongoing or undeveloped zones. This view from space provides a fascinating perspective on how these islands are shaping Dubai’s coastline and expanding its urban footprint.
This breathtaking image (ISS030-E-99324) was taken on February 22, 2012, by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Captured using a Nikon D3S digital camera with a 400mm lens, the image was later enhanced to improve contrast and remove lens artifacts. The ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment, supported by the NASA Image Science & Analysis Laboratory at Johnson Space Center, enables astronauts to capture high-resolution images of Earth for scientific research and public interest.
For more incredible astronaut photography, visit the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth and explore how Earth looks from space!
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