UAE President Sheikh Mohamed calls for nationwide prayer for rain

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan urged residents across the UAE to participate in a prayer for rain, known as Salaat Al Istisqaa, on Saturday, December 7.

The prayer, a longstanding Islamic tradition, will take place at mosques nationwide at 11:00 am. It calls on worshippers to seek blessings for rain and mercy, following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The practice is a longstanding Gulf tradition observed when rainfall is scarce. It is initiated through a formal directive from the nation's leader, calling for a unified prayer.

This announcement comes as temperatures in the UAE have started to cool with the arrival of December, signaling the shift to the winter season.

Last week, the UAE National Center of Meteorology (NCM) issued a weather advisory, warning of rain, strong winds, and rough sea conditions for the week.

UAE residents were advised to prepare for reduced visibility, cooler temperatures, and challenging conditions near shores.