In a gesture rooted in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has officially requested that Salaat Al Istisqaa—the prayer for rain—be held across all mosques in the country. This communal act of worship is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 9, precisely thirty minutes before the standard Friday sermon. Residents are encouraged to participate in this collective appeal for mercy and rainfall as the nation enters its anticipated cooler months.

The timing of this prayer coincides with a broader shift in the UAE's religious observance schedule, as mosques transitioned to a 12:45 pm Friday prayer time starting in January 2026. This spiritual call also arrives alongside optimistic reports from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), which has forecasted above-average precipitation between October and January. Meteorologists attribute this outlook to a powerful El Niño climate pattern, which is expected to bring beneficial rains to the region, though officials are also keeping a close watch for potential instances of heavy weather throughout the season.