Friday sermon and prayer to be reduced to 10 minutes; applicable from June 28 to October

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have requested that imams limit their Friday sermon and prayer to ten minutes due to temperatures that have above fifty degrees Celsius. The directive will go into effect on Friday, June 28 and last through October.

Muslims observe Jum'uah, or extraordinary congregational prayers, on Friday, the holiest day of the week. Mosques fill up quickly, so many attendees are forced to say the prayer outside in the sweltering sun in courtyards. Worshippers will be shielded from the intense summer heat by this shift.

The 10-minute limit, according to the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, is in accordance with Islamic customs to safeguard public health. 

Over the previous three days, highs in the UAE have ranged from 48 to 50°C. June 26 marked the half-century mark. July and August continue to be the country's warmest months. From an astronomical perspective, the summer officially lasts from June to September.