Islamic Affairs Authority Announces Revised Friday Prayer Timings

The UAE's Islamic affairs authorities have moved Friday prayers 30 minutes earlier across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, shifting the time from 1:15 PM to 12:45 PM starting January 2, 2026. The change affects thousands of mosques and millions of worshippers in the country's two largest emirates.

The General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat announced the decision in coordination with Dubai's Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities. This marks the first major scheduling change for Friday prayers in recent years.

The timing adjustment comes as the UAE continues standardizing religious practices across its emirates. Friday prayers are mandatory for Muslim men and draw massive crowds to mosques throughout the country every week.

Religious authorities urged all worshippers to stick to the new schedule once it takes effect. The change gives people more time for afternoon activities while ensuring prayers remain within the prescribed Islamic timeframe.

The coordination between Abu Dhabi and Dubai's Islamic departments shows how the UAE manages religious affairs across different emirates. Both cities house major expatriate Muslim populations alongside Emirati citizens who attend Friday services regularly.