Madinah
Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, also known as al-Madinah an-Nabawiyyah and Taybah, is the capital, administrative centre, and largest city of Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia.
It is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca, and one of the oldest and most important places in Islamic history. The population as of 2022 is 1,477,023, making it the fourth-most populous city in the country. Around 58.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and 41.5% are foreigners. The city joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2024. Located at the core of the Medina Province in the western reaches of the country, the city is distributed over 589 km2 (227 sq mi), of which 293 km2 (113 sq mi) constitutes the city's urban area, while the rest is occupied by the Hejaz Mountains, empty valleys, agricultural spaces, and older dormant volcanoes.
Getting to Madinah
Unlike Mecca, Medina is open to everyone, including non-Muslims. Non-Muslims were once banned from entering Al-Haram Al-Madani, where the Prophet's Mosque is located, but this was gradually relaxed in 2021 and 2023 as part of Vision 2030. Muslims planning to visit during the Hajj season must apply for a Hajj visa. Non-Muslims may not visit during the Hajj season.
- 01Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport
This airport receives direct flights from around the Middle East, and is accessible to non-Muslims.
- 02Medina
King Abdul Aziz Rd (East of the centre).
Worth seeing
Whether you are a practising Muslim or simply curious about Islam, Medina is the perfect place to deepen your curiosity about one of the world's largest religions.
- 01The Prophet's Mosque
The Masjid Nabawi, or the Prophet's Mosque, is the second most important pilgrimage site in Islam, where devout Muslims offer prayers.
- 02Al-Baqi'
- 03Mount Uhud
Other things to be seen, a little away from the city, are the plains and mountain of Uhud where the battle took place.
- 04Masjid
Further away is the Masjid al-Qiblatayn where the Quran recounts that the Prophet was ordered by Allah to turn his face from Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Makkah while offering prayers.
- 05Masjid Jumua
Masjid Jumua where the Prophet prayed the first Jumua or Friday prayers.
- 06Masjid Al Ghamamah
Masjid Gamama where once he had prayed for rain.
Where to eat
There are restaurants selling diverse foods, largely from across the Muslim world. There are Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi restaurants in abundance. Many of these restaurants will serve favourites such as shawarmas and falafel. There is also Chinese, Indonesian, Turkish, Egyptian, and local food. The Western fast-food chains
- 01McDonald's
KFC, and Hardee's have outlets in the city, as do Saudi chains such as Al Baik and Kudu.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.