Today in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, the sun rises at 6:11 AM and sets at 6:29 PM, giving the city exactly 12h 17m of daylight. That is 0 minutes longer than yesterday—approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice. With 122 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Kota Kinabalu is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Kota Kinabalu
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Kota Kinabalu runs from N/A to 6:39 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 6:01 PM and lasts until 6:29 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Near the equator, Kota Kinabalu's daylight stays remarkably stable year-round, deviating very little from the annual average.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Kota Kinabalu falls exactly at 12:20 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -23.07 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Kota Kinabalu, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Kota Kinabalu?
At Kota Kinabalu's latitude of 5.9780066°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 105.96° (ESE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Kota Kinabalu are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 5.9780066, 116.0728988. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Kota Kinabalu (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Kota Kinabalu versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:11 AM | 6:29 PM | 12h 17m |
| 2025 | 6:11 AM | 6:29 PM | 12h 17m |
| 2021 | 6:11 AM | 6:29 PM | 12h 17m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Kota Kinabalu today?
In Kota Kinabalu, the sun rises at exactly 6:11 AM and sets at 6:29 PM today. This gives the city a total of 12h 17m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Kota Kinabalu today?
Today, morning golden hour in Kota Kinabalu runs from N/A to 6:39 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 6:01 PM and lasts until 6:26 PM.
Why does sunrise in Kota Kinabalu shift every day?
At Kota Kinabalu's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 105.96° (ESE). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Kota Kinabalu at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 12:20 PM when the sun reaches -23.07. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Kota Kinabalu, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in Kota Kinabalu changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 6:11 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 6:11 AM.