Afraid of Friday the 13th? UAE psychiatrist on why fear spreads faster than facts

Friday the 13th is here – the first of three in 2026 – and superstition is trending online. But is the fear real, or fuelled by culture, films and social media?

A UAE-based psychiatrist who previously practised in London said the fear, known as ‘paraskevidekatriaphobia’, is far more common in Western societies than in the Emirates.

“Paraskevidekatriaphobia is an intense fear of Friday the 13th,” Dr Amir Javaid, Consultant Psychiatry at Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Medical City, told Gulf News.

“In the UK, I encountered several patients who would avoid travel, postpone meetings or feel heightened anxiety on this day. In the UAE, I haven’t seen many clinical cases linked specifically to this date.”

According to Dr Amir, the fear is rarely a severe psychiatric condition. Instead, it is often rooted in cultural conditioning.

“In most cases, it’s not a diagnosable phobia but a learned belief reinforced by family traditions, media portrayals and societal narratives,” he said.
“If you grow up hearing that Friday the 13th is unlucky, your brain starts scanning for evidence that confirms that belief.”

That scanning, he noted, is a classic example of confirmation bias.

“People remember the negative event that happened on Friday the 13th but forget the hundreds of normal or positive things that occurred on the same day,” he said.

“Our brains are wired to notice patterns – even when they don’t exist.”

While many dismiss the superstition as harmless, Dr Amir noted that belief in unlucky days can subtly influence behaviour.

“Even if someone doesn’t openly admit fear, they may delay signing contracts, avoid making major purchases, or feel less confident taking risks,” he underlined.
“Anxiety, even at a mild level, can affect judgement and performance.”

In extreme cases seen in the UK, some individuals would refuse to fly or attend important events scheduled on the date.

“The fear becomes self-fulfilling,” he said, pointing out that beliefs in the supernatural, ghosts, or bad omens can amplify it.
“If you expect something bad to happen, you may behave more cautiously or nervously, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.”

In today’s digital age, superstition spreads faster than ever.

“Social media amplifies fear. When people see memes, warning posts, or viral videos about Friday the 13th being unlucky, it creates a sense of collective anticipation.”

He said that repeated exposure strengthens emotional responses.

“The more often we see content linking the date to danger or misfortune, the more familiar – and therefore believable – the association becomes.”

This effect, known as availability bias, makes dramatic or negative stories feel more common than they actually are.

Dr Amir believes the multicultural and largely pragmatic environment of the UAE may reduce the psychological impact of such superstitions.

“In Islamic tradition, Friday is considered a blessed day,” he noted. “There is no religious basis for considering the 13th unlucky. That cultural context likely plays a role in reducing anxiety around the date.”

He said that in diverse societies, superstitions tend to carry less collective weight.

“When people from many cultural backgrounds live together, no single superstition dominates the social narrative,” he said.

As 2026 brings three Friday the 13ths – in February, March and November – the psychologist underlined there is no scientific basis for concern.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a date on the calendar,” he said.
“The power we give it determines how it affects us.”