ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates will change and standardize the Friday sermon and prayer schedule across the country from January 2, 2026, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf) said.
According to the new schedule, Friday prayers and sermon (khutbah) will be held at 12:45 local time in all mosques in the country.
Previously, Dubai and Abu Dhabi generally held Friday prayers around 1:30 pm local time, while Sharjah and some northern emirates held prayer around 12:30 pm local time.
The new rule brings together all the country’s mosques under a single and unified calendar.
The authority urged the faithful to arrive early so as not to miss the sermon and ensure they received the full religious reward, emphasizing the importance of punctuality.
Officials said the decision aims to improve organization and ensure consistent prayer times across the emirates, supporting better crowd management and community coordination.
