DUBAI: Starting from January 2, 2026, all mosques across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will conduct Friday prayers and sermons simultaneously.
The UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs announced that, under the new policy, the Friday congregation and khutbah will be observed at 12:45 PM countrywide.
In the past, Friday prayer times varied in Dubai and Abu Dhabi usually around 1:30 PM, while in Sharjah and other northern emirates, prayers were closer to 12:30 PM. The new directive standardizes the timing across the nation for consistency.
The authority has called on all worshippers to respect the fixed schedule and perform their Friday prayers on time to ensure uniformity and discipline across the UAE’s Islamic community.
