Kuwait introduces shorter prayer time to reduce power consumption

Kuwait's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has introduced new guidelines to mosques across the country to reduce electricity consumption amid rising demand.

The measures, announced by the Mosques Department in Hawalli Governorate, include shortening prayer durations, restricting access to prayer halls, and limiting the use of air conditioning.

The new directives were issued following a request from the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy. The guidelines are part of a larger energy-saving initiative, which will also see scheduled power cuts at mosques across Kuwait’s six governorates starting this week.

Under the new rules, mosques are instructed to close their main indoor prayer halls for all five daily prayers. Worshippers will instead perform prayers in outdoor courtyards. Indoor prayer halls will only be open for Friday prayers, with air conditioning set to 22°C on automatic mode from Thursday evening until the end of Friday.

For daily prayers, outdoor areas will be used, and air conditioning, if necessary, must be set to 25°C on automatic mode. Women's prayer sections will be closed in most mosques, with exceptions for mosques hosting religious lectures or classes. In such cases, air conditioning should also be set to 25°C, and the sections must be closed immediately after the sessions.

The ministry has also instructed imams to shorten the interval between the call to prayer (adhan) and the start of the prayer (iqama), particularly for the Dhuhr and Asr prayers. The duration of the prayers themselves should also be reduced.

Additionally, a schedule of power cuts has been outlined, including a blackout from 30 minutes after the Dhuhr prayer until 15 minutes before the Asr prayer, and another from 30 minutes after the Asr prayer until 5 p.m.