Holy-City on SAUDI VISION 2030 Intelligence Platform

Madinah

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Definition

Madinah (also spelled Medina, formally Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah — “The Radiant City”) is the second-holiest city in Islam, located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, home to the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) and the burial site of the Prophet Muhammad.

Overview

Madinah holds profound significance in Islamic history as the city where the Prophet Muhammad established the first Muslim community after the Hijra (migration) from Makkah in 622 CE. The Prophet’s Mosque, which contains his tomb, is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Islam. While visiting Madinah is not a mandatory component of Hajj or Umrah, the vast majority of pilgrims include Madinah in their journey.

Makkah

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Makkah: Saudi Arabia 2026 Explained

Makkah in Saudi Arabia is the holiest city in Islam and the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, year-round Umrah visits, and Vision 2030’s religious-tourism capacity plans.

Located in the Makkah Region of western Saudi Arabia, Makkah (also spelled Mecca) is home to the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) containing the Kaaba.

Overview

Makkah holds a singular position in Islam as the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of the Kaaba, the most sacred structure in the Islamic faith. Every day, over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide face toward the Kaaba in prayer, and every able Muslim is obligated to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime.