Winter's Arrival and Summer's Departure: The Changing of the Seasons

UAE's Ancient 'Safriya' Season Returns: Why This 40-Day Agricultural Window Still Drives Modern Farming

The UAE enters its traditional "Safriya" season on September 6th, marking a crucial 40-day agricultural period that has guided farming practices across the Arabian Peninsula for centuries. This ancient timing system, based on stellar observations and lunar mansions, continues to dictate when farmers plant, harvest, and prepare for the year's most productive growing season—demonstrating how traditional knowledge remains surprisingly relevant in modern agriculture.

The Science Behind Ancient Timing

Safriya begins with the rising of the "Jabha" (Forehead) constellation, four bright stars arranged from south to north, with the southern star—known as "Malik" or "Heart of the Lion"—shining blue-white as a first-magnitude star. This celestial event signals the gradual transition from the intense summer heat toward winter conditions.

According to Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, Chairman of the UAE Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences, Safriya represents the first of two autumn seasons, followed by "Wasm." The 40-day period extends from September 6th to October 15th, creating a critical bridge between summer's end and winter's approach.

Etymology and Cultural Significance

The term "Safriya" derives from "safar," meaning beginning or first count in Arabic. Historically, Arabs used "safar" to denote the start of something new. The season also earned its name from the traditional migration period when Bedouin communities would leave their settled areas (making them "yellow" or empty) to search for rain and pasture in the desert.

Agricultural Renaissance in the Desert

Safriya's arrival triggers intensive agricultural activity across the UAE. Farmers begin actual planting operations, transplant palm offshoots and tree seedlings to permanent locations, and sow seeds in protected nurseries to shield them from harsh sun and dry winds. The season also marks the beginning of date harvesting and the ripening of pomegranates and lemons.

This timing system proves remarkably sophisticated for desert agriculture. The period coincides with gradually decreasing temperatures and increasing humidity levels, creating optimal conditions for plant establishment before winter's more favorable growing conditions arrive.

Weather Patterns and Climate Adaptation

During early Safriya, heat persists but humidity increases significantly, leading to morning fog and dew formation. Moist southeastern winds become more active, contributing to cumulus cloud formation over mountainous regions including the Hajar Mountains spanning the UAE and Oman, and the Sarawat Mountains in southern Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

By mid-October, temperatures begin dropping noticeably, with dawn bringing genuine coolness. The "Akithib" winds intensify during this period, accelerating atmospheric changes, while northern winds carry cloud formations from the north.

Ecological Awakening

Safriya triggers the flowering of numerous native desert plants and trees, including thorny shrubs, caper plants, various acacias, jujube trees, and desert gourds. This natural blooming cycle supports local ecosystems and provides traditional medicine sources that have sustained Arabian communities for generations.

Modern Relevance of Ancient Wisdom

While the UAE has transformed into a modern agricultural powerhouse using advanced irrigation and climate control technologies, the Safriya system remains valuable for several reasons. The timing aligns with optimal planting conditions for many crops, reduces water stress on new plantings, and helps farmers coordinate with natural pollination cycles.

The season's reliability—based on astronomical events rather than variable weather patterns—provides farmers with consistent planning frameworks. This proves particularly valuable as climate change creates more unpredictable weather patterns, making traditional seasonal markers increasingly important for agricultural timing.

The preservation and continued use of the Safriya system represents more than agricultural tradition—it demonstrates how indigenous knowledge systems can complement modern farming techniques, offering time-tested solutions for sustainable desert agriculture in an era of environmental uncertainty.