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The United Arab Emirates has officially announced a significant change to the timing of Friday prayers, set to take effect from January 2, 2026. According to the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Awqaf and Zakat, Friday prayers across all mosques in the country will begin at 12:45 PM, approximately 30 minutes earlier than the current 1:15 PM schedule.
The authority called on worshippers to honour the new timing and arrive early to ensure the prayer is performed within its designated period. The update was shared through an alert on the Friday sermon archive page of the authority’s official portal.
The announcement read:
“O worshippers: The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat announces that starting from Friday, January 2, 2026… the Friday sermon and prayer will be held at 12:45 PM. Make sure to perform it at its specified time to ensure reward and blessings.”
This adjustment comes four years after the UAE unified Friday prayer timings in 2022, following the country’s transition to a Saturday–Sunday weekend, with Fridays becoming a half-day for government employees. The revised schedule enabled workers to attend Jumuah prayers conveniently, while many private companies offered flexible or remote work options.
Last year, authorities also instructed imams to keep Friday sermons to 10 minutes during summer months for the well-being of worshippers facing extreme temperatures.
For Muslims, Friday holds immense spiritual significance as the holiest day of the week, marked by the congregational Jumuah prayer. The new timing aims to streamline the practice nationwide while supporting both religious devotion and community comfort.
