Aziziyah District

Aziziyah is conveniently located between Al Haram and Mina, easily navigated on foot or by car. An ideal neighborhood for shopping and dining, Aziziyah is a top spot for pilgrims to explore while in Makkah.

Aziziyah is a bustling residential and commercial neighborhood within walking distance of Al Masjid Al Haram. It is home to a myriad of restaurants, supermarkets, boutiques and banks, along with schools, shopping centers and corporate offices. The district also has hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. Al Masjid Al Haram Road is the main thoroughfare of this upscale area.

Masjid Al Khayf

Masjid Al Khayf is located near the base of a mountain in Mina, near the smallest Jamarat (a wall used for the Stoning of the Devil ritual). It is easily accessible by road or the Hajj Metro.

This well-known place of worship that sits on the edge of Mina’s tent city is where Mohamed (PBUH) and many other prophets prayed. Once a modest structure surrounded by a low wall, the mosque has been expanded to accommodate 25,000 pilgrims.

Factory of Kaaba Kiswa Manufacturing

The Factory of Kaaba Kiswa Manufacturing is about a 17km drive west of central Makkah. Discover how more than 100 workers transform 670kg of pure silk into the Kiswa. Every year the covering's outer black curtain is replaced. The used fabric is carefully sectioned to create gifts for dignitaries and world leaders.

Visitors are welcome to see the artisans at work from 9am to noon on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Kaaba has a long history of being covered and adorned. Tradition says it was either the Prophet Ismail (SAW) or a grandfather of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) who first placed the cloth curtain – called the Kiswa – upon the Ancient House.

Over the centuries, the Kaaba’s coverings have been made in a variety of fabrics and colors. Today, this sacred duty falls to a special government-owned factory in Makkah. A multitude of artisans design, dye, weave, print and embroider the Kiswa. Great care is taken in crafting both its outer black silk curtain and inner green silk lining.

Assalaamu Aleyka Ayyuhan Nabiyyu Museum

Opened in 2012, this privately owned museum is a top Makkah destination for locals and visitors alike. Located on the road to Taif, Assalaamu Aleyka Ayyuhan Nabiyyu Museum is so popular that advance bookings are required.

Muslims all over the world revere the revelations, teachings and conquests of Mohamed (PBUH). But who was he? The museum strives to paint a fuller picture of his life with the use of high-tech videos, innovative displays, artifacts and models. With contributions from more than 150 scholars, visitors can be assured of the exhibition’s religious, archaeological and scientific accuracy.

Discover the types of tools Mohamed (PBUH) may have used, the kind of house he may have lived in and examples of clothing from the age of The Prophet (PBUH). Learn about his ancestors, wives, children and descendants. Leave the museum with a broader understanding of The Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his time.

Exhibition of 2 Holy Mosques Architecture

The Museum of Architecture offers wonders for devotees of Islamic history. The exhibition hall lies about an hour drive from the city, in the Umm Al Jude area. Some Hajj and Umrah tour operators include this destination on their itineraries. Visitors can also take taxis (best to have the driver wait) or a bus.

Operating hours vary. It is usually open on Fridays and Saturdays during Ramadan and Hajj. You may need a permit to enter at other times.

On the northwestern edge of Makkah you’ll find a museum dedicated to treasures from two of Islam’s holiest mosques. Discover how Al Masjid Al Haram (Holy Mosque) in Makkah and Al Masjid An Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Madinah have been transformed over the centuries. Behold artifacts that include a teak staircase from the Kaaba, carved in 1825, and the door of an Ottoman pulpit, a relic from the Prophet’s Mosque that dates to 1590.

Jabal Thawr

Mount Thawr lies about 12km south of Makkah. Because of its greater distance from the holy city, the site sees fewer pilgrims than Hira Cave in Jabal Al Nour, where Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) received his first revelation. Travelers who do make the steep climb to Thawr's summit are rewarded with panoramic views and a peek inside the cave where Allah (SWT) protected The Prophet (PBUH) and his friend from their enemies.

Jabal Thawr is one of the mountains that surround the valley where Makkah lies. It was within a cave here that The Prophet (PBUH) and his companion Abu Bakr (RA) hid for three days from the Quraish tribe. To protect the two men, Allah (SWT) had a spider spin a web at the cave’s entrance, preventing their enemies from seeing within and finding them. Thawr Cave has since come to symbolize faith and hope.