• Facilitating community coordination and a unified worship experience:
A fixed national schedule makes it easier for families, workers, and students to plan their weekly routines—especially given the UAE’s multi-emirate and multi-mosque landscape. This aligns with ongoing government efforts to streamline daily life through unified national policies.
• Harmony with “Year of the Family” and social initiatives:
The change corresponds with broader initiatives, including the designation of 2026 as the UAE’s “Year of the Family,” making the adjusted timing supportive of family life, shared activities, and a more balanced Friday routine.
3. Winter-time and practical timing Considerations
• Stability versus seasonal astronomical variations:
In recent years, the UAE adopted a fixed Friday prayer time instead of adjusting it seasonally. Shifting from 1:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. provides a consistent schedule that is easier for institutions and individuals to follow, reducing confusion around changing prayer times between summer and winter.
• Why winter specifically matters:
While winter days are shorter, the Dhuhr time (after solar noon) still falls in the middle of the day. Moving the prayer to 12:45 p.m. remains within the valid timeframe and offers a practical window for families to attend prayer before afternoon activities and gatherings. This is consistent with general organizational considerations highlighted in official statements.