Salah Times in Doha: Everything to Know

Whether you have recently moved to Qatar or have lived there for years, you’ve probably heard the daily call to prayer, or salah, echo through the city five times a day. In a place where prayer times shape the rhythm of daily life, being familiar with them isn’t just helpful, it’s part of understanding how the country moves. 

Prayer times aren’t fixed. They change daily, vary slightly by city, and are influenced by astronomical calculations and religious guidelines. So, in this article, we’ll help you get familiar with prayer times in Qatar and better understand the culture as an expat. 

In Qatar, prayer is not only a personal act of worship but also a public expression of faith. The daily call to prayer is a reminder for Muslims to slow down and take a moment to pause for worship. For Eid, the Eid prayer becomes a central aspect of celebrations. And during Ramadan, prayer times guide fasting rituals and nightly Taraweeh prayers.

Muslims pray five times a day at a designated time, after hearing a call to prayer (Athan) from a nearby mosque. The timing of each prayer depends on the position of the sun:

• Fajr (dawn prayer): Takes place before sunrise, serves to start the day with grace

• Dhuhr (noon prayer): Happens at midday, after the sun reaches its peak

• Asr (afternoon prayer): Takes place in the afternoon

• Maghrib (sunset prayer): Happens just after sunset and symbolizes the end of the day

• Isha (night prayer): Takes place at nightfall, when the sky is completely dark

Friday prayer (Jumu’ah) in Qatar

Friday is the holiest day of the week in Islamic tradition. Therefore, a special prayer is held to mark this weekly day of worship. 

Around midday, instead of the daily Dhuhr, Muslims gather for Jumu’ah. This is a larger, communal prayer that includes a short sermon and is centered around coming together as a community to perform an otherwise regular daily act of worship. You may even see entire families heading out to the mosque in traditional attire.

Jumu’ah prayer is usually held between 11:30 AM and 12:15 PM, depending on the season. During this time, government offices, schools, and many private businesses remain closed. Many workplaces offer a longer lunch break or end their work hours early on this day. Alternatively, some restaurants and malls open later in the day.

As we mentioned, prayer times depend on the position of the sun. So, they often vary from day to day. This also means that prayer times can change depending on the season and your exact location.

In Qatar, the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs is in charge of the daily calculation of prayer times. On its official website, the Ministry publishes daily prayer timetables for each city in Qatar. You can also check out prayer times for your area in English. 

An example of prayer times for June 10: 

Aside from the official ministry website, you can get informed about prayer times via mosques, TV, radio, or apps:

• QIC App (available for iOS and Android): Go to City, then tap on Islam to see the daily salah schedule. You can also enable alerts for prayer times and have them displayed on the main screen

• Mosques: Mosques broadcast the call to prayer on their loudspeakers at the exact prayer times. Many of them also provide calendars with prayer schedules

• TV channels and radio: Local TV channels, such as Qatar TV, often display daily prayer times. Radio stations across Qatar, such as QBS Radio (97.5 FM), include prayer times in their programming

• Mobile apps for prayer: Muslim Pro, Athan, and Qatar Prayer Times send notifications to your phone with daily prayer times and Athan. Most of these apps are available for both iOS and Android

While Qatar doesn’t legally require store closures or schedule changes during prayer times, the time for salah is respected and often accommodated. 

Local shops and businesses

If you have been living in Qatar for a while, you might notice that some shops or businesses are briefly closed during Dhuhr, Maghrib, and Asr prayers to allow their staff and customers to pray. 

Large malls and businesses stay open, although they usually have fewer customers during prayer times. Still, most of them (as well as public buildings) have specified prayer rooms for employees and customers. 

Work and school schedules

While Qatar follows a typical 8-hour working day in the public sector, offices are often mindful of prayer times, allowing short breaks during Dhuhr and Asr for their employees. Meetings are also often scheduled to avoid clashing with prayer times. 

Moreover, many educational institutions and schools set aside time for Dhuhr prayer within break times during the school day.

Traffic patterns

While prayer times don’t have a drastic effect on traffic, you might notice certain traffic patterns that coincide with salah times. 

For example, traffic tends to thin out around Maghrib prayer, as people rush home from work. Conversely, roads near mosques might get busier around prayer times, especially during Friday prayers. 

Also, if you’re using transportation services such as Uber, your driver could take longer to get to you. This is why it’s important to check local prayer times and organize your schedule accordingly.

Understanding prayer times in Qatar gives you a better sense of how life in this country flows, from work and school schedules to everyday errands and gatherings. If you're not a Muslim, it’s still important to be culturally sensitive and show respect towards Islam, especially around prayer times.

You’ll honor salah by making a conscious effort not to disrupt the prayers. You should pause loud music or entertainment when you hear Athan. What’s more, you should avoid scheduling events that clash with prayer times, especially if your guests are Muslim. 

The next time you hear the call to prayer, consider taking a moment to pause and recenter. It’s one of the small, everyday rituals that make life in Qatar more grounded.