The United Arab Emirates has officially declared January 1, 2026, a public holiday for federal government employees to mark the New Year.
The announcement was made by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, confirming that Thursday, January 1, will be a holiday, while Friday, January 2, 2026, will be a normal working day for federal staff.
Gulf media reports also highlighted a significant update that will take effect in early 2026: the UAE is set to implement a new timing schedule for Friday sermons and prayers.
According to the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, the updated timings will take effect from Friday, January 2, 2026.
Under the new schedule, the Friday sermon and prayer will begin at 12:45 PM. The authority urged worshippers to arrive early to ensure they do not miss the sermon and emphasized the importance of timely attendance for full spiritual reward.
Officials noted that the revised schedule aims to improve coordination and ensure consistency across mosques nationwide.
