In pictures: 'Ring of fire' eclipse captivates skywatchers in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait

The eclipse is only visible from a narrow band of Earth each time and it can be decades before the same pattern is repeated. Saudi women wearing special protective glasses monitor the annular solar eclipse on Jabal Arba (Four Mountains) in Hofuf, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, 26 December (Reuters)

This year's astronomical phenomenon was set to be visible from the Middle East across southern India and southeast Asia. People take photos with their smartphones as they monitor the annular solar eclipse on Jabal Arba (Four Mountains) in Hofuf, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, 26 December (Reuters)

Saudi men wearing special protective glasses monitor the annular solar eclipse on Jabal Arba (Four Mountains) in Hofuf, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, 26 December (Reuters)

The moon passes between the sun and the earth during an annular solar eclipse in Madinat Zayed in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26 December (Reuters)

An Emirati woman views an annular solar eclipse in Madinat Zayed in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26 December (Reuters)

This picture taken early on 26 December shows seagulls flying above a beach in Kuwait City during the partial solar eclipse event (AFP)
 

This picture taken early on 26 December shows a view of the sun in Kuwait City during the partial solar eclipse event (AFP)
 

This picture taken early on 26 December shows a view of the sun in the central Iraqi holy shrine city of Najaf during the partial solar eclipse event (AFP)