© 2025 Made by Urbi Atlas with Urbi map technology. Data: NASA
Why do cities appear dimmer in satellite images? What happened there? Did these neighbourhoods decline? Was there a mass exodus of residents, leaving streets empty and homes abandoned? At first glance, satellite images might suggest so, as once-bright districts appear to fade. But a closer look on the ground tells a different story.
In reality, these cities are thriving—more vibrant and better-lit than ever. These areas remain full of life. Population is growing, businesses are booming, public spaces are bustling, and city life is flourishing.
Population change since 2012. Data: WorldPop
Al Hofuf’s population increased by 42% from 2012 to 2020. Even in areas where satellite images show dimming, the population has risen by 37%. The change isn’t about what was lost but what was gained: LED lighting. This quiet revolution has reshaped Saudi Arabia’s cities in ways satellites fail to capture.
The shift to LEDs makes cities more efficient with smarter, more targeted illumination. Unlike older streetlights, LEDs focus light where needed, reducing glare and pollution. This makes streets safer and more comfortable while lowering energy consumption. However, it also means that satellites, designed to detect traditional lamps, often miss the full picture.
Take Jeddah—satellite images suggest parts of the city are in darkness, yet the streets and buildings glow with light from a plane window. The city is alive with activity and its neighbourhoods bustling well into the night.
© 2025 Made by Urbi Atlas. Images: NASA, Amazing aviation/YouTube.
© 2025 Made by Urbi Atlas.
Images: NASA, Amazing aviation/YouTube.
This contrast challenges how we interpret urban brightness. While some areas have dimmed, they remain just as vibrant. The disconnect between what satellites capture and what is happening on the ground reveals a shift in how cities are lit—one that requires a closer look to understand.
Saudi Arabia plans to switch all streetlights to LED, aiming to become the first G20 country to do so.
To understand what’s happening, we need to investigate how satellite imaging works and why LEDs—while more sustainable and efficient—have made parts of Saudi Arabia’s cities «disappear» from the night sky.
Satellite sensors are designed to pick up the warm, orange-yellow glow of traditional sodium lamps, which emit light in longwave frequencies that these sensors are tuned to capture. LEDs, however, are a completely different breed of lighting.
LEDs often produce a spectrum that peaks in the blue and shortwave parts, particularly in cool white LEDs, making them highly visible to the human eye but less detectable by traditional satellite sensors. The result? Areas that switch to new lighting may appear dimmer or even absent on satellite photographs despite often being better lit on the ground.
© 2025 Made by Urbi Atlas. Data: Cao & Bai.
New residential developments in Riyadh and other Saudi cities have adopted LED streetlights as part of their modernisation efforts. While satellite data shows reduced brightness, these areas feature well-lit streets and safe public spaces.
The gap between ground-level visibility and satellite detection has implications for urban planning and environmental monitoring. Satellite imagery, vital for tracking urbanisation and light pollution, now risks underestimating areas with widespread LED use. Updating sensors or models to account for LEDs’ unique spectral properties is essential.
Lighting accounts for 20–40% of city electricity consumption.
With cities worldwide facing rising energy demands, lighting remains a significant driver of urban electricity consumption. By adopting LEDs, Saudi Arabia sets an example in efficiency and environmental responsibility.
National Energy Services reports that Saudi Arabia aims to become the first G20 nation to transition all street lights to energy-saving LEDs. Why does this matter? LEDs are far more efficient than traditional sodium lamps, using 5–30 times less electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED bulbs typically require 6 to 12 watts, while high-pressure sodium bulbs can use 50 to 450 watts. This dramatic reduction in energy consumption means cities can allocate resources more efficiently while reducing strain on the power grid.
© 2025 Made by Urbi Atlas. Data: NASA.
By adopting LEDs, cities can reduce lighting costs by 30–50%
LEDs also last much longer—25,000 to 50,000 hours compared to 1,000–2,000 hours for sodium lamps. Their durability means fewer replacements, lower maintenance costs, and less waste. Switching to LEDs can significantly reduce carbon emissions, cutting global CO2 output by at least 490 million tons annually, according to UN experts—equal to removing over 140 million cars from the roads. For Saudi Arabia, this transition directly supports Vision 2030’s goals of lowering environmental impact and embracing renewable energy.
Barcelona’s streetlights adjust to traffic to save energy, while Los Angeles’ smart lights detect noise for faster emergency response.
As cities shift to LED lighting, they are also moving towards the next innovation: smart lighting systems. These advanced technologies combine energy-efficient LEDs with sensors, connectivity, and automation, setting a new urban efficiency and functionality standard.
Smart lighting networks use IoT technology and sensors to create intelligent streetlights capable of detecting motion, enhancing public safety, and optimising energy use. Saudi Arabia is leading this transition, with over 150,000 smart streetlights already installed, according to inteliLIGHT. Cities like Riyadh and Jeddah are deploying these systems to improve safety, reduce energy consumption, and support environmentally sustainable urban development.
LEDs have also become a game-changer for sports venues worldwide. When one of Saudi Arabia’s race tracks installed LED lighting fixtures, it achieved a 40% energy saving compared to traditional luminaries. London Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium recently replaced more than 9,000 lights with LED alternatives to use less electricity.
350 m
Neom’s futuristic stadium, suspended 350 metres above ground, will feature high-speed lifts and driverless access.
Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup will rely on advanced lighting systems to ensure an optimal experience for players and broadcasts. Spread across 15 stadiums in five cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Al Khobar, and Neom—the tournament’s venues will push architectural and technological boundaries.
Using Urbi technologies, we modelled several stadiums and their lighting:
Lighting will be crucial, with at least 1,500 lux needed for clear visibility—lux measures how bright the light is on the field. LED stadium lights will use less energy than classic lighting, substantially reducing electricity consumption. As technology advances, LEDs will continue brightening urban life while reducing environmental impact—a quiet revolution lighting the way to a more sustainable future.
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