UAE President Calls for Nationwide Rain Prayers Amid Expected Wet Weather

President Sheikh Mohamed has called on UAE residents to participate in Salaat Al Istisqaa, the traditional Islamic prayer for rain. This special congregational service will take place at mosques across the UAE on Friday, providing an opportunity for worshippers to seek divine mercy and blessings for the nation.

The prayer is scheduled to begin half an hour before the weekly Jumuah prayers, starting at 12.45pm. While the UAE has seen scattered precipitation this year, the majority of regions have remained dry. Additional rainfall is vital for agriculture, supporting farmers in cultivating healthy crops under challenging conditions.

According to forecasters, more rain is expected, and the UAE is projected to avoid the worst impacts of El Nino. However, declining rainfall levels have affected parts of the Middle East. Throughout most of 2025, cumulative rainfall in the UAE dropped significantly below average, recording about 38 per cent less than the historical baseline and nearly three times lower than levels seen in 2024.

How Salaat Al Istisqaa is Performed

Salaat Al Istisqaa follows specific traditions and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. The service does not include an adhan, or call to prayer, nor an iqamah. Worshippers arriving early are encouraged to perform voluntary prayers, known as nawafil, before or after the service.

Following the completion of the two-rak'ah prayer with the Salam, the imam delivers a sermon while standing directly on the ground instead of ascending the pulpit, symbolizing humility before Allah. At the conclusion of the second sermon, the imam faces the qibla—the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah—and raises his hands in supplication to ask for rain.

A unique tradition during Salaat Al Istisqaa involves the turning of the imam’s cloak. At the end of the second sermon, the imam turns his cloak inside out as a symbolic gesture of hope that Allah will transform hardship into ease and replace drought with rain, followed by further supplications.

Expected Rainfall Across the UAE

The scheduled prayers coincide with forecasts predicting possible rainfall in the coming days. Dr Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at the National Centre of Meteorology, informed The National that scattered rainfall could develop across parts of the country.

The probability of precipitation is set to rise over the weekend and into early next week, with Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday identified as days with potential showers. Forecasters note that the rainfall will likely remain localized rather than widespread, with some areas experiencing moderate or heavy showers while others stay dry. This developing weather pattern may create additional opportunities for rainfall throughout the month.