These are the world's sunniest cities, ranked by annual sunshine hours

"Many of the cities sit within the high-pressure belt between 25° and 40° latitude, where descending dry air limits cloud formation and keeps skies consistently clear. It's why desert capitals dominate the upper end of the ranking, with Dubai, Cairo and Doha each exceeding 3,400 annual sunshine hours - close to nine and a half to 10 hours of direct sunlight every single day of the year."

"While Florida's "Sunshine State" branding suggests it should top the list, Orlando (2,930 hours) actually trails Los Angeles (3,257 hours) by more than 300 hours. The difference comes down to climate mechanics: Southern California's Mediterranean system brings long, dry summers and relatively stable winter patterns, while Florida's humid subtropical conditions generate more cloud build-up and convective storms, particularly in summer."

"Across Europe, Lisbon, Athens and Madrid represent the continent's brightest urban centres. Their totals - all above 2,700 annual hours - reflect dry summers and prolonged shoulder seasons. In practical terms, that translates to noticeably longer stretches of usable daylight than many northern European capitals can offer."

Annual sunshine hours vary significantly across global cities, with desert capitals dominating the rankings. Dubai leads with 3,577 hours, followed by Cairo and Doha, all exceeding 3,400 hours annually. This geographic concentration reflects the high-pressure belt between 25° and 40° latitude, where descending dry air prevents cloud formation and maintains clear skies. In the United States, Los Angeles surpasses Orlando despite Florida's "Sunshine State" reputation, due to Mediterranean climate patterns versus humid subtropical conditions. European leaders include Lisbon, Athens, and Madrid, all exceeding 2,700 annual hours, benefiting from dry summers and extended shoulder seasons that provide longer usable daylight than northern European cities.

Read at CN Traveller