Friday prayers in the UAE are to be brought forward from 1.15pm to 12.45pm from the beginning of 2026.
The change was announced by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat. It coincides with the UAE’s announcement of 2026 as the Year of the Family.
The UAE officially changed the timing of Friday prayers in January 2022, which coincided with an amendment to the working week, with Saturday and Sunday becoming the weekend. It had been Friday and Saturday until that point.
The change was introduced to bring the UAE into line with much of the rest of the world, where the working week runs from Monday to Friday.
As part of that shift, the weekly sermon and prayer were set to begin at 1.15pm “throughout the year”, replacing the variable seasonal timings previously used. Public institutions worked a half-day on Friday.
Schools and workplaces also adjusted schedules to accommodate the new routine, with Friday becoming a half-day in many government offices and lessons in most schools ending earlier to allow pupils and staff to attend the sermon and prayer.
A circular announcing the latest change was posted on the authority's website on Tuesday. The notice “urged all worshippers to take care to adhere to the new timings”, which are to go into effect from January 2. “The Friday prayer will be held at exactly 12.45pm,” the circular said.
Sharjah did not change Friday prayer timings and instead switched to a four-day working week, from Monday to Thursday, at the beginning of 2022.
Schools waiting
Both Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) said no amendments to Friday timetables have been announced as a result. One school principal hopes that will remain the case.
“The school does not plan to change the timings for now and would prefer for them to remain the same, but we are awaiting for communication from the KHDA before any changes are considered,” said Naveed Iqbal, principal of Gems Metropole School, Motor City, Dubai.
“There is some concern about the impact this will have on curriculum time and student outcomes. There is a challenge currently on covering the curriculum in the school time that is available. Any reduction will be challenging.
“However, we are equipped to resolve all such challenges and will ensure that adaptive measures are put in place to ensure the best possible student outcomes.
“In terms of the community leaving for prayers, this will need to be prompt as the window to get home and then to prayers is shorter.”
School ends on Fridays for students at Gems Metropole School at 12pm, with students taking buses leaving 10 minutes before that.
Mr Iqbal said the school has been in contact with the KHDA regarding the impact of the new prayer timings.
“The KHDA is always consultative on all matters and has been with this too, the schools have been emailed and our feedback is being taken into account,” he said.
