Do you live in Dubai or are you planning to visit soon? If so, it’s important to know the prayer times for Dubai. This will help you plan your day and make sure that you don’t miss any of your religious obligations.
Dubai Online offers accurate prayer times (salah times) for today. Times are updated daily so bookmark this page as a handy reference guide.
Salah times are given for Dubai. We also offer times for other locations in the United Arab Emirates; Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman.
Prayer Times Today in Dubai
Prayer times for Tuesday August 16, 2022 are:
- Fajr - 4:31 am
- Sunrise - 5:50 am
- Dhuhr - 12:26 pm
- Asr - 3:53 pm
- Maghrib - 6:56 pm
- Isha - 8:15 pm
Prayer times were last updated on .
Accurate prayer timings are also published in newspapers such as the Khaleej Times and Gulf News.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Islam is the official religion of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All Muslims (followers of Islam) should adhere to practices known as the Five Pillars of Islam:
- Shahadah – professing that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet
- Salah (or Salat) – offering five daily prayers
- Zakat – paying alms to the poor and needy
- Sawm – fasting during the holy month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar)
- Hajj – all Muslims should make the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once during their lifetime
Muslim Prayers Explained
Salah (prayer) is performed five times each day; at dawn, midday, in the afternoon, just after sunset, and in the evening.
- Fajr Salah – dawn
- Dhuhr Salah (also Zuhr, Duhr) – midday
- Asr Salah – late afternoon
- Maghrib Salah – just after sunset
- Isha /Salah – evening
This timetable sets the pattern of the day for a Muslim and connects them to other Muslims around the world.
Prayer times vary throughout the year and are calculated based on the position of the sun and sunrise and sunset times.
Muslims can pray in any clean place, not just in a mosque. Most shopping malls in Dubai have dedicated prayer rooms. Prayers may be performed alone, but it is considered best when done with other Muslims.
Muslims must wash before praying (wudu).
While praying they must face in the direction of the Kaaba, a cube-shaped building at the centre of the Masjid al-Haram (Sacred Mosque) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
From any point around the world, the direction facing the Kaaba is called the Qibla.
Azan
The call to prayer, azan (or adhan), is recited, by a special crier called the muezzin. Historically, the crier would have recited the call to prayer from the minaret of the mosque. Nowadays, many mosques have loudspeakers mounted on the minaret. The muezzin will use a microphone or play a recording.
Friday Prayers
Friday prayers are the most significant of the week. Muslims are encouraged to pray in a congregation at a mosque.
Until the end of 2021, the weekend in Dubai and the UAE was Friday and Saturday. The public sector and most private businesses had a 5-day working week.
At the beginning of 2022, the weekend was changed to Saturday and Sunday. Public sector workers also now work at 4½ day week, finishing on Fridays at noon.
Friday prayer time is 1.15 pm throughout the year.
Islamic Holidays in Dubai
Each year, Dubai celebrates a variety of Islamic holidays. Islamic public holidays are:
- Eid al-Fitr – Marks the end of Ramadan.
- Arafah Day – Falls on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah.
- Eid al-Adha – Falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
- Islamic New Year – First day of the month of Muharram.
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday – 12th day of Rabi’ al-Awwal.
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar (Islamic calendar). The Hijri year is a lunar calendar and shorter than the Gregorian calendar (Western calendar). The Gregorian dates for the holidays listed above can be found in our detailed guide to public holidays in Dubai.
Mosques in Dubai
In Dubai, mosques (masjids) are a common sight. There are over a thousand mosques in the city, and they can be found in almost every neighbourhood.
Mosques play an important role in the Muslim community, and they offer a place for worship.
In addition to being a religious centre, mosques also serve as a social hub for Muslims in Dubai. They offer a place for people to come together and discuss important issues, and they provide a sense of community for Muslims.
Mosques in Dubai include:
- Jumeirah Mosque (view map) – Tours for non-Muslims available.
- Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque (view map) – This mosque is notable because of its twenty-one domes that resemble the architectural style of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul. Located in Al Safa. Tours for non-Muslims.
- Al Salam Mosque (view map) – Located in Al Barsha, close to the Mall of the Emirates.
- Abdul Rahman Siddique Mosque (view map) – Situated on the Palm Jumeirah, close to The Pointe. Contemporary design.
- Al Rahim Mosque (view map) – Located at the southern end of Dubai Marina.
- City Walk Mosque (view map) – Located at City Walk.
- DIFC Grand Mosque (view map) – Situated at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
- Iranian Mosque (view map) – Also known as Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque. Located in Bur Dubai, near the Old Souk (Textile Souk).
- Grand Mosque (view map) – Locate in Bur Dubai, opposite the Dubai Museum.
Mosque Tours – Non-Muslims
Mosque tours for non-Muslims have become a popular tourist activity in Dubai. While most mosques remain off-limits to non-Muslims, others offer guided tours and educational programs that provide an inside look at Islam and the Muslim community. Mosque tours provide an opportunity to learn about a culture and religion that are often misunderstood.
There are only a handful of mosques in Dubai that allow non-Muslim visitors. They include the Jumeirah Mosque, Grand Mosque, and Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque.
When visiting a mosque, it is important to dress conservatively. This means covering your arms and legs, and wearing a headscarf if you are female.
