Starting January 2, the UAE will adjust Friday prayer times to 12:45pm, prompting worshippers to adapt by arriving at mosques earlier. Many believers are already modifying their routines to accommodate this shift, reshaping lunch breaks and setting digital reminders to ensure they don’t miss the khutbah.
Khaleej Times visited mosques in Sharjah and Dubai, gathering insights from residents on the impact of the new schedule. Many worshippers are using the upcoming Fridays as practice runs to make the January 2 transition seamless.
‘Arriving 20 Minutes Ahead’
Ahmed Masud, an operations supervisor at an ecommerce firm in Sharjah, realized he often reaches just in time for Jumuah prayers. He aims to change this habit before the new timing is implemented.
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“After reading about building a routine in Khaleej Times, it made sense, so I left the office early today to start building this habit. I arrived at the mosque about 20 minutes before the khutbah,” said the Sudanese expat.
“It was peaceful, no rushing or stress. Practicing this over the next few Fridays should make the 12:45pm shift comfortable.”
He has already set a reminder on his phone for every Friday at 12:10pm.
Lunch After Prayer
For Riyaz ur Rahman, an Indian expat in Al Wuhaida and an executive at a plastic manufacturing company, the change necessitates a reorganization of his weekly routine, especially lunch and team meetings.
“I used to have lunch with colleagues before heading to the mosque. Now, I’ve shifted lunch to after prayers,” said Riyaz.
“Our lunch discussions help plan the week ahead, so we need to combine our meeting and lunch now.”
Bilal Khan, a delivery rider in north Dubai, views this shift as a chance to reset habits and take breaks earlier.
“I usually complete a delivery before rushing to the mosque,” said the Pakistani expat. “Now, I must plan better, stop orders earlier, and arrive before the rush.”
Bilal believes arriving early will significantly impact his mindset. “Arriving late keeps your mind on traffic, deliveries, and parking. I’ll change this next Friday.”
