Office employees in the UAE might soon experience new Friday routines as businesses adjust lunch and prayer breaks to align with the nationwide shift to a 12:45pm Friday prayer time starting January 2, 2026.
The General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Awqaf and Zakat announced the revised Friday prayer timing earlier this week, prompting employers to reconsider their teams’ midday schedules. Many workers may find familiar routines such as rushing to prayer, extending lunch until nearly 2:30pm, or returning to work with half the day gone, changing soon.
At Hotpack, Friday breaks currently last from 12:30pm to 2:30pm, allowing employees two hours for prayer and lunch. The company noted that the new timing enables them to plan a smoother schedule.
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“We’ll now begin the break at 12pm and conclude by 2pm,” said Mujeebur Rahman, director at Hotpack. “It’s still two hours, just more aligned with the updated prayer time.”
“Our overall work hours remain the same. We’re simply shifting the Friday break to match the new prayer timing. Employees will still complete the same hours as before,” added Mujeeb.
Some companies are awaiting clarity on the prayer structure, specifically the exact times for the adhan and khutba, before finalizing decisions.
“Currently, our Friday break is from 12:30pm to 2:30pm,” said Masiuddin Mohammed, founder of Superjet Group. “We are considering 11:30am to 1:30pm or 12pm to 2pm, but will finalize once the timing of the khutba is confirmed.”
“The workday remains unchanged for our staff,” said Mohammed. “Only the Friday break timing is adjusted. Their total hours and responsibilities are unaffected.”
For employees, this change could alleviate common Friday pressures such as late lunches and tasks to be completed after the break.
“Currently, prayer is around 1:30pm and our employees have a lunch break until 2:30pm,” said Mohammed Basheer, admin manager at Jaleel Holdings. “With the updated prayer timings, breaks will start earlier and lunch can be concluded by 2pm.”
“Once the new timings are implemented, it will help people plan their breaks more conveniently,” added Basheer.
Khaleej Times also reached out to schools in the UAE, which are reviewing their Friday schedules. “We await full details from the governing body and a complete Friday schedule. Currently, holidays are ongoing, and we will soon finalize a Friday schedule,” said a UAE school principal.
With just a few days before the change takes effect, companies appreciate the early announcement as it provides time to fine-tune plans.
