The Holy City

Located in the Sirat Mountains in western Saudi Arabia, Mekkah is Islam’s holiest city and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. Only Muslims are allowed in the city, which sees millions arriving for the annual Hajj (pilgrimage) to the central Masjid al-Haram (Sacred Mosque), which dates from the 7th century and surrounds the Kaaba, Islam’s most sacred shrine. But Makkah is not just limited by its spiritual significance; this is a city with the heart of a village in historic Arabia where sun-bleached homes nestle in rocky hillsides and visitors bargain with shopkeepers alongside the emerging modern city. Arriving into King Abdulaziz International Airport is followed an hour’s onward journey via bus or taxi into the centre of Makkah.