Makkah

Makkah, also spelled Mecca, is a city in the western Saudi Arabian region of Hejaz and the capital of Makkah Province. It lies inland from the Red Sea coast, roughly 70 to 80 kilometers east of Jeddah. It is Islam’s holiest city, home to the Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque that surrounds the Kaaba, toward which Muslims direct their prayers. The Kaaba is regarded as the most sacred site in Islam. According to Islamic tradition, Makkah is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the location of early revelations; the Quran references the city as Bakkah.

A central purpose of the city is the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, required for Muslims who are financially and physically able to undertake it at least once in their lifetime. Umrah, a non-mandatory pilgrimage, may be performed at other times. During Hajj and Umrah, millions of pilgrims visit, perform tawaf by circling the Kaaba, and carry out related rites in and around the Grand Mosque.

In modern times, Saudi authorities have expanded and modernized infrastructure in Makkah and the surrounding holy sites to accommodate pilgrims, including the Grand Mosque’s expansions, transport networks, and housing facilities. The city is also a historical and commercial center in the region. Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter Makkah.