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Key points
- Masjid al-Haram sits in a valley in the middle of Makkah. Most pilgrim hotels are within walking distance on its south, west and north sides.
- The mosque has more than a hundred numbered gates. The big named ones, such as King Abdulaziz Gate and King Fahd Gate, are easy landmarks.
- Note the number of the gate you use from your hotel on the first day, and pick one fixed meeting point for the family.
- Gate numbers, open gates and walking routes can change with building work and crowd plans, so follow the signs and the staff on the day.
Makkah in one picture
Think of Masjid al-Haram as the centre of a circle. The clock tower stands just to its south. Hills rise on the west and east, and the city spreads out along the valleys between them. Roads and tunnels lead in from every side, and most of the area right around the mosque is for walking only.
When people talk about a hotel’s “area”, they usually mean one of the neighbourhoods below.
The areas around the Haram
- Clock tower and the south side: the towers right next to the mosque, the closest hotels of all
- Ajyad: south and south-east of the Haram, with many hotels on and near Ajyad street
- Ibrahim al-Khalil road and Misfalah: the busy road running south from the mosque, with hotels, shops and restaurants that many South Asian pilgrims know
- Jabal Omar: the newer towers on the west side, a short walk from the western gates
- The north side (Shamiya): behind the King Abdullah expansion of the mosque, where the area is still being rebuilt
- Aziziyah: farther out to the east, towards Mina, several kilometres from the Haram; hotels here usually run a bus to the mosque
This is a rough guide to directions, not an exact map. For a hotel, always ask for its walking time to the nearest gate.
The main gates
Every gate of Masjid al-Haram has a number above it, and the large gates also have names. A few are worth knowing because everyone uses them as landmarks:
- King Abdulaziz Gate: the big main gate on the south side, facing the clock tower
- King Fahd Gate: a large gate on the west side of the mosque
- Umrah Gate: a well-known gate on the north-western side
- Bab al-Salam: on the eastern side, near the Mas’a where sa’i is done
Some gates are kept for men or women only at prayer times, and some close when the mosque is full. Staff guide people to the open ones.
Remember your gate
- 1
Step 1
On the first day
Walk from the hotel to the mosque with your group leader and note the gate number you enter by.
- 2
Step 2
Take a photo
Take a photo of the gate number and the nearest sign, and share it on the family WhatsApp group.
- 3
Step 3
Learn the way back
Look back at the route as you walk: a shop, a bridge or a tower. Coming out after prayer, everything looks different in the crowd.
- 4
Step 4
Carry the hotel card
Keep the hotel’s card or address in Arabic in your pocket, so a taxi driver or a policeman can help you.
A meeting point plan for families
- Choose one meeting point outside a numbered gate, not “near the Kaaba”
- Agree a time to meet after each prayer, for example ten minutes after the salam
- Give children and elderly parents a card with the hotel name, your phone number and the group leader’s number
- If someone is lost, stay where you are and call; the mosque staff and police help lost pilgrims every day
Questions
More than a hundred numbered gates, plus entrances to the upper floors and the roof. The large named gates, like King Abdulaziz Gate and King Fahd Gate, are the easiest landmarks.
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Official guidance
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
