UAE cuts Friday sermons at mosques over sizzling heat

TDT | Agencies 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Not more than 10 minutes. The United Arab Emirates ordered preachers there to conclude sermons in 10 minutes during the months of June, July, August, September and October.

The extraordinary decision stems from the rising summer temperatures linked to climate change.

Announcing the decision, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs said things will be back to normal when temperatures cool again.

The sermons usually last for 20 minutes for the main weekly prayers on Fridays but can run even longer, with large crowds gathering outside mosques at midday.

The decision was aimed at ensuring “the safety of worshippers... especially during the summer months”, the statement said.

It coincides with UAE authorities’ efforts to avoid heat strokes and other complications as temperatures approach 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in parts of the country.

From June until September, the UAE prohibits work under direct sunlight and in open-air areas between noon and 3:00 pm as part of a longstanding “midday break” policy widely adopted across the Gulf.

The desert region, already one of the world’s hottest, faces rising threats from high temperatures attributed to climate change.

“Rising temperatures in the region, combined with high humidity, create dangerous conditions,” said Karim Elgendy, as associate fellow at the Chatham House think-tank.

“This presents a serious threat to human health in outdoor environments,” the climate expert told AFP.