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Amid regional conflict, UAE's faithful find comfort in Laylat Al Qadr late-night prayers
During Laylat Al Qadr, many worshippers remain in mosques for most of the night, offering extended prayers known as Qiyam
- PUBLISHED: Mon 9 Mar 2026, 5:00 AM UPDATED: Mon 9 Mar 2026, 8:18 AM
From tonight, mosques across the UAE will host special late-night prayers as Ramadan enters its final and most significant phase: the last ten nights of the holy month.
The period holds special significance in Islam because Laylat Al Qadr, the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed, falls during this time.
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While its exact date is unknown, many believers seek it during the odd nights towards the end of Ramadan. This year, the final nights arrive at a time of heightened tension in the region.
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In recent days, residents have received emergency alerts and heard air-defence interceptions as the wider Iran-US-Israel conflict spilled across parts of the Gulf, including the UAE.
"People are naturally worried when they get alerts and see the news about the conflict,” said Sharjah resident Mohammed Al Hammadi, who plans to attend prayers at Al Noor Mosque. “But when you come to the mosque during these nights, everything feels calmer.”
Mosques extend prayer schedules during this period, with recitations continuing late into the night and many worshippers staying for hours.
Dubai resident Omar Ahmad, who works in logistics, says the last ten nights are the one part of Ramadan he never misses.
“For the past few years, I have been taking my mother to the mosque in a wheelchair,” he said. Seeing her pray among thousands of worshippers, he said, makes the effort worthwhile.
Khalid Mustafa, a chartered accountant from Karachi, recalls attending these prayers with his family for years when they lived in Al Barsha.
This Ramadan will be slightly different. Mustafa recently moved to Business Bay and plans to attend the prayers at the nearby Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Mosque for the first time.
“My family is back in Pakistan this year, so I’ll be going on my own,” he said.
For Ajman resident Asim Alavi, the nightly walk to the mosque in Al Hamidiya has become a tradition he now shares with his 10-year-old son, Musa.
“He loves listening to the recitation and seeing so many people gathered for prayer,” Alavi said.
Across the UAE, mosques see some of their largest congregations of the year during these nights.
In Dubai, worshippers gather in large numbers at mosques such as Jumeirah Mosque, Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, and Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Mosque.
In Sharjah, one of the most sought-after venues is the Sheikh Saud Al Qasimi Mosque in Al Shahba.
For nearly three decades, the prayers there have been led by renowned Quran reciter and Emirati businessman Salah Bukhatir. His distinctive recitation draws worshippers from as far as Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai.
Although the mosque can accommodate around 2,300 worshippers, crowds during the final nights often exceed that number. The faithful frequently spill into surrounding streets.
During Laylat Al Qadr, many worshippers remain in mosques for most of the night, offering extended prayers known as Qiyam, reciting the Quran and making dua seeking forgiveness and blessings.
Many say their prayers this year also include appeals for peace and stability in the region.
