The United Arab Emirates will standardise the timing of Friday sermons and prayers across the country starting January 2 2026.
Under the new schedule all mosques nationwide will hold Friday prayers and the sermon at 12:45 p.m. local time. Until now timings varied widely: Dubai and Abu Dhabi generally held prayers around 1:30 p.m. while Sharjah and some northern emirates conducted them closer to 12:30 p.m.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs Endowments and Zakat known as Awqaf says the change aims to bring uniformity to prayer times improve organisation and help with crowd management across all emirates.
Officials emphasised the importance of punctuality urging worshippers to arrive early to hear the full sermon and receive the complete spiritual reward. The unified timing also supports smoother coordination for communities and ensures consistency in religious practices nationwide.
The move reflects the UAE’s ongoing efforts to streamline and modernise religious and community activities while maintaining respect for traditional practices. Starting in January 2026 Muslims across the country will follow the same Friday schedule marking a historic step in synchronising worship and enhancing community cohesion.
