Mosques in Abu Dhabi and Dubai hold Friday prayer time at 1.15pm

Prayer time moves after the new working week came into force on January 1

Friday prayers were held at 1.15pm at the Mosque of Omar ibn Al Khattab in Abu Dhabi, in line with the new working week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The change was introduced to give government workers time to attend Friday prayers at a mosque. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

People attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Sustainable City, Dubai. Prayers started at around 1.15pm. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Friday prayers were held at 12.30pm at the Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah. Antonie Robertson / The National

People pray at the Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah. Saturday and Sunday is the new weekend in the country and Friday is a half day for public sector employees, with work beginning at 7.30am and ending at midday. Antonie Robertson / The National

No changes have been made to the Friday prayer timings at mosques in Sharjah. Antonie Robertson / The National

Midday prayers continue to be held around noon in Sharjah as government employees have a three-day weekend - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Antonie Robertson / The National

The midday prayer on Friday at 12:30pm in Sharjah at the Al Noor Mosque. Antonie Robertson / The National

People attending Friday prayers in Sustainable City. Friday prayers are considered the most important of the week, and Muslims are encouraged to pray at a mosque in a group. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Friday prayers in mosques in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were held at 1.15pm today in line with the new working week.

Typically, Friday prayers begin at dhuhr – between noon and 12.30pm – depending on the season, but the timing was changed recently.

The change was introduced to give government workers time to attend Friday prayers at a mosque.

The dhuhr prayer time has been moved by about an hour, with the sermon beginning at 1.15pm. Friday prayers are led with the sermon in the mosque, followed by jumaa prayers.

Saturday and Sunday is the new weekend in the country and Friday is a half day for public sector employees, with work beginning at 7.30am and ending at midday.

But Friday prayers at mosques in Sharjah were held at 12.30pm – the prayer timings before the new weekend changes came into force.

Government employees in Sharjah have a three-day weekend – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Prayer is the second of the five pillars of Islam and its timings were determined by the Prophet Mohammed according to the solar cycle. Five prayers are performed during the day: fajr (dawn), dhuhr (midday), asr (afternoon), maghrib (sunset) and isha (evening).

Each must be prayed once the adhan – or call to prayer – is heard. Muslims are encouraged to pray immediately but have a window of a few hours before the next prayer is called.

Friday prayers are considered the most important of the week, and Muslims are encouraged to pray at a mosque in a group.