The United Arab Emirates has decided to introduce a single, uniform time for Friday prayers and sermons in all mosques across the country. This change was announced by the UAE General Authority for Islamic Affairs, which said that from January 2, 2026, the Friday sermon and prayer will be held at the same time everywhere—12:45 pm.
Until now, different emirates followed different schedules. For example, Friday prayers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi usually took place around 1:30 pm, while in Sharjah and the northern emirates they were often held closer to 12:30 pm. These variations sometimes caused confusion, especially for people who moved between emirates or had family members living in different cities.
With the new unified timing, the UAE aims to create consistency and make it easier for everyone to plan their day. It also ensures that Muslims across the country attend the sermon and prayer together, strengthening the sense of unity among worshippers.
