UAE students may see shorter Fridays starting January 2026, as schools adjust to new nationwide prayer timings. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat announced that Friday sermons and prayers will now start at 12:45pm, standardising timing across the country.

This change means schools will likely need to dismiss students earlier so they can get home in time for prayers. Principals say they are waiting for official instructions from education authorities to finalise Friday schedules.

In Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has started surveying schools to understand how the new prayer timing could affect lesson plans and teaching hours. Some schools may adjust break times or shorten lessons to ensure students can leave on time.

School transport will also need to adapt. Many schools are reviewing bus schedules so students can reach home safely before prayers.

Schools in different emirates face unique challenges. For example, in Ajman, prayer times differ from nearby Sharjah, making Friday dispersal more complex. In Abu Dhabi’s outskirts, traffic is lighter, so schools may not need to change as much, but city schools could face bigger adjustments.

Education authorities like ADEK are expected to issue clear guidelines soon, helping schools balance instructional time with the new Friday prayer schedule.

The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has withdrawn recognition of all degrees and qualifications issued by Midocean University, which operates an office in Fujairah. The decision comes after a joint inspection with the Fujairah Free Zone Authority uncovered serious compliance issues.

Officials found that the university had been offering registration and academic programmes without proper accreditation. Some online programmes were run without a clear quality assurance system, and there were significant discrepancies between the student and course information submitted to authorities and what was actually happening on site.

After a thorough review, MoHESR confirmed that Midocean University does not meet the UAE’s national standards. The university’s status has now been updated to “not accredited” in the official records.

The ministry stressed that this move is aimed at protecting students and ensuring the credibility of higher education in the UAE. Students and parents are encouraged to check the accreditation status of any institution before enrolling, either via MoHESR’s website or by calling the Customer Happiness Centre at 800511.

MoHESR reiterated its commitment to strong oversight and cooperation with local and federal authorities to ensure a safe, transparent, and trustworthy learning environment for all students.

The UAE is celebrating a landmark achievement after its national robotics team clinched the coveted Gold Medal at the 2025 First Global Challenge, an event often hailed as the Olympics of Robotics. The competition, held in Panama City from October 28 to November 1, brought together young innovators from 193 countries, making Team UAE’s victory even more remarkable.

In a special ceremony held in Dubai on Saturday, the team was honoured for their outstanding performance, showcasing the UAE’s growing strength in STEM education, youth innovation, and global scientific excellence.

The eight-member team –  Riya Mehra (Dubai College), Aarya Parekh (Delhi Private School Sharjah), Aarush Pancholi (GEMS Modern Academy), Aditya Anand (New Millennium School Al Khail), Krithin Satya (Dubai College), Simran Mehra (Dubai College), Sreya Binoy Nair (GEMS Modern Academy), and Aryan Goyal (DIA Emirates Hill) — spent more than 300 hours preparing for the global challenge.

Their training was powered by Unique World Robotics, Team UAE’s official training partner, which supported the students through mechanical design, programming, and strategic problem-solving to compete on the world stage.

“This victory is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and ingenuity of our young innovators,” said coach Muhammed Mukhtar. 

“They have made the nation proud and shown that UAE students can compete at the highest global level.”

A groundbreaking project with global potential

The winning project, STASH, is an innovative bio preservation system that protects endangered plant species, including the UAE’s iconic Ghaf tree, without the need for electricity or freezing. Instead, it uses sodium alginate hydrogels to encase living cells in small, portable beads that remain viable for up to five days.

The system is paired with a 3D-printed field kit and AI-powered viability analysis, creating a low-cost, eco-friendly solution that can be deployed anywhere in the world, especially in remote regions.

The project impressed a distinguished panel of judges that included experts from MIT and scientists from Lam Research, who commended the team for its creativity, sustainability, and global applicability.

Team Captain Aarush Pancholi reflected on the accomplishment: “Winning Gold was the result of countless hours of collaboration and experimentation. We’re proud not just of the medal, but of building something that can make a real difference for biodiversity and communities worldwide.”

A milestone for the UAE’s innovation journey

National Organiser Bansan Thomas George praised the team’s achievement, noting that Team UAE’s success reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to STEM education and youth empowerment.

“Their work on STASH demonstrates not only technical brilliance but also a vision for sustainable solutions that benefit the world,” he said.

With this victory, Team UAE continues to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers, reinforcing the nation’s strategy of investing in future-ready talent.