Overview
- The General Authority of Islamic Affairs issued an official circular setting the sermon and prayer at exactly 12:45pm and urged worshippers to be punctual from January 2.
- The change replaces the 1:15pm schedule used by most emirates since 2022 and ends timing differences with Sharjah’s earlier practice.
- Dubai’s KHDA is gathering feedback from schools, with administrators preparing revised Friday timetables so students can reach home before prayers.
- Companies are adjusting lunch and prayer breaks, including Hotpack, which will shift its two-hour Friday break to align with the earlier service.
- Imams are advising congregants to arrive early and prepare for possible initial congestion near mosques as communities adapt.