Mecca

Mecca is a city in western Saudi Arabia and Islam’s holiest place. The Masjid al-Haram surrounds the Kaaba, towards which Muslims face during prayer. Hajj brings eligible Muslims to the city during a fixed annual period, while Umrah can be performed throughout the year. Access to the holy city is restricted to Muslims.

Saudi authorities administer Mecca and the pilgrimage through national ministries, regional government and specialist bodies. Transport, crowd safety, health services and accommodation must expand sharply during Hajj. The city also carries political weight because stewardship of the holy sites supports the Saudi monarch’s title as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Mecca therefore combines a permanent urban population with one of the world’s largest recurring movements of people.