Rain prayers to be held in mosques across the UAE on Friday

Salat al istisqa is performed to ask God for rain and mercy

The UAE has taken significant steps, including cloud-seeding programmes, to increase rainfall over recent years. AFP

Rain prayers will be held in mosques around the country on Friday, half an hour before the weekly Friday prayers.

It follows the directives from President Sheikh Mohamed issued this week, in a tradition that is performed across the Gulf when rainfall is delayed. The prayers, salat al istisqa, are performed to ask God for rain and mercy.

This year is among the driest on record, interim figures show, with both April and May breaking temperature records.

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Dr Omar Al Darei, chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, praised the directive and said it is positive to preserve tradition.

Prayers will be held at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and mosques across the country. Victor Besa / The National

Dr Al Darei said that he hoped all members of society would participate. The Emirates Fatwa Council launched a series of awareness-raising and fatwa initiatives related to performing the prayer, explaining the traditional call for rain.

The council also published a study on the “prayer for rain” in English and Arabic, which the public can download from its app and website.

Chance of rain?

September and October often bring some of the most humid conditions of the year, with some days peaking at 100 per cent humidity. This year has been relatively dry by comparison.

While bouts of rain across the UAE are not uncommon – especially in the Northern Emirates – the UAE has an arid desert climate. The country typically receives about 150mm of rainfall a year.

Additional rainfall can be crucial for the agriculture sector, as farmers seek to cultivate healthy crops in challenging conditions, as well as bolstering groundwater reserves.

The UAE has taken significant steps to increase rainfall over recent years. The country launched its cloud-seeding programme in the 1990s.

By the 2000s, the National Centre of Meteorology was working with global peers such as Nasa and the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in the US to further develop seeding strategies.

The National Centre of Meteorology last week warned of heavy rain last weekend, but the UAE on the whole remained dry.

UAE worshippers perform rain prayers in 2024 – in pictures

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa leads the prayers for rain at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The prayers, known as Salat Al Istisqa, are performed to ask God for rain and mercy. Antonie Robertson / The National

The tradition is performed across the Gulf when rainfall is delayed. Antonie Robertson/The National

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa leads the prayers for rain at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The rites across the UAE come after President Sheikh Mohamed called for rain prayers to be held in all mosques in the country on Saturday, December 7, at 11am. Antonie Robertson / The National

Worshippers at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa gives an address. Antonie Robertson / The National

The call for prayer comes as the nation celebrates Eid Al Etihad to mark the anniversary of the foundation of the UAE. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa leads the prayers for rain at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa leads the prayers for rain at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National