UAE Mosques to Hold Special Rain Prayer on Friday

Friday, October 9, 2026 is a special day to pray Salaat Al Istisqaa (prayer for rain) in all of the mosques in the UAE. The prayer has been called by UAE’s President HM sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and will be held 30 minutes prior to Friday’s congregational prayer.

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What Is Salaat Al Istisqaa?

The Prayer of Al Istisqaa is a prayer which is offered by Muslims when it occurs that it fails to rain, or it takes a very long time. A follow-up to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad where he used to pray and seek God’s help during droughts. They ask Allah for mercy, for rain and livelihood for humans, animals and fields.

Collective Call for Rain and Mercy

The pan-national celebration unites communities in a way that is indicative of faith, humility and collective responsibility. Members of the church are expected to pray for favorable rain fall whilst asking for forgiveness and mercy from Father. Gratitude and responsible water usage could also be reinforced through Friday sermons, especially in the UAE which does not suffer from abundance of water.

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UAE Enters Wetter Season

The special prayer was offered as UAE enters its cooler and traditionally wetter season. The National Centre of Meteorology has predicted above-average rainfall from October to January, and characterized the current El Niño climate phenomenon as very strong, observing that it can come with beneficial rainfall. Authorities have also warned of periods of heavy rain, however, under more favourable conditions.