Mosques to open for Friday prayers in UAE

Our Correspondent

Mosques in the UAE will host Friday prayers from December 4, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management(NCEMA) announced on November 24.

They will function at 30 per cent of their capacity for the Friday prayers, authorities said at a virtual briefing. The mosques will open 30 minutes before the sermon and close 30 minutes after the prayer.The sermon and prayer will last for 10 minutes.

For all other prayers, mosques will open 15 minutes before the prayers, except the Maghrib (sunset) one, which will open five minutes before. All mosques will close 10 minutes after the prayers.

The UAE had resumed congregation prayers at mosques on July 1 with reduced capacity, but Friday prayers had remained suspended.

Ablution facilities and washrooms at mosques will remain closed. Worshippers are advised to perform the ablution from home.

Worshippers must wear face masks during the prayers and they must bring their own prayer mats. The elderly and those with weakened immunity are advised avoid going to the mosques.