Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi)
The second holiest mosque in Islam, with a green dome over the Prophet Muhammad's tomb and sprawling courtyards with giant umbrellas. Non-Muslim visitors cannot enter the mosque.
Madinah
Pilgrims usually visit this city before or after Hajj and Umrah; it is the home of the Prophet's Mosque.
Attractive locations
Al-Baqi' Cemetery
The oldest Islamic cemetery in Madinah, beside the Prophet's Mosque, where many members of the Prophet's family and his companions are buried. Muslim visitors come to pray for the dead, and the graves are plain and mostly unmarked.
Quba Mosque
Regarded as the first mosque built in Islam, on the southern edge of the city. Its white domes and quiet courtyard attract many worshippers, who often pray here.
Masjid al-Qiblatain
The Mosque of the Two Qiblas, where Muslims believe the direction of prayer changed from Jerusalem to Makkah. The mosque has twin domes and two minarets.
Mount Uhud
A reddish mountain north of the city, the setting for the Battle of Uhud in the early years of Islam. A cemetery of those who fell lies at its foot.
The Seven Mosques
A cluster of small mosques near the site of the Battle of the Trench. Muslim visitors come to pray and reflect on the history of this early event.
International Fair and Museum of the Prophet's Biography
A large exhibition complex of pavilions presenting the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the history of Islamic civilization with models, displays and interactive features.
Al-Ijabah Mosque
A small mosque near the Prophet's Mosque where, according to tradition, the Prophet once prayed and made a request. It is a calm stop for Muslim visitors.
Mosque of Al-Ghamama
A historic mosque near the Prophet's Mosque, said to stand where the Prophet led festival prayers. Its domes and open setting make it recognisable.
Masjid ash-Shajarah
A mosque south-west of Madinah at the meeting point where pilgrims entering the state of pilgrimage don their simple white garments before travelling on toward Makkah.
Airports
Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport MED
It is about 13 km in a straight line from Madinah.
Getting around
Haramain train to Madinah
Stations on the Haramain High Speed Railway include Madinah and Makkah, along with King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport and Al-Sulimaniyah in Jeddah. Its travel tips advise arriving early and being on the platform on time, since boarding is brief, and printing your ticket and carrying ID. Seats are reserved through the railway's website or mobile app.
- Source: Haramain High Speed Railway: official portal (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Haramain High Speed Railway: travel tips (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Madinah city buses
Pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors can use the city buses in downtown Madinah, which the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says serve the main stations and routes reaching most key areas. Payment is electronic, and help is available for people with special needs. The Madinah bus application displays timetables and routes and can be used to arrange trips; alternatively, go in person to a bus station, where schedules can be checked.
- Source: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: the access to Madinah (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Saudi Arabia page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan15.9 °C4 mm
- Feb18.3 °C1 mm
- Mar22.1 °C1 mm
- Apr26.3 °C2 mm
- May30.8 °C1 mm
- Jun33.6 °C0 mm
- Jul34.0 °C0 mm
- Aug34.8 °C3 mm
- Sep33.2 °C0 mm
- Oct28.6 °C1 mm
- Nov22.4 °C6 mm
- Dec18.0 °C3 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Aug, Nov, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 47% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Hajj season
In the country's yearly calendar this is one of the biggest events. Hotels fill up, prices rise, and early planning is recommended.
Who can help
Emergency and help
911 is the unified emergency number in most regions. Police 999. Ambulance 997. Civil defence / fire 998.
local government
Ministry of Health Call Center 937
Helps with: The health ministry's call center, listed for medical consultations and receiving reports from inside the Kingdom, 24/7. A separate number is listed for calls from outside the Kingdom.
Who qualifies: Callers inside Saudi Arabia needing medical consultation; the page does not say which languages are offered.
Phone: 937
Email: 937@moh.gov.sa
local government
Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Guests Care
Helps with: The ministry that serves pilgrims and visitors for Hajj and Umrah. Its contact page lists phone lines marked 24/7, an email address and several Guests Care Centers in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.
Who qualifies: Pilgrims and visitors served by the ministry; the page sets no further conditions.
Phone: +966 920002814
Email: Care@haj.gov.sa
local government
Guests Care Center, east of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah)
Helps with: A Guests Care Center of the Hajj and Umrah ministry, east of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah. The phone is the ministry's central line (24/7); inside the Kingdom you can also call 1966.
Who qualifies: Pilgrims and visitors served by the ministry; the page does not state who may use the center.
Phone: +966 920002814
Email: Care@haj.gov.sa
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911
local government
Emergency number 112 for phones without a Saudi SIM
Helps with: Emergency number for callers without a Saudi SIM card. UK government travel advice says to call 112 in that case.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 112
ngo
Saudi Red Crescent Authority
Helps with: The contact page lists 997 as the ambulance number and a beneficiary services call centre. It also offers first aid training through its Ambassador of Life programme.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. It gives a public contact form and the phone numbers listed.
Phone: 00966112805555
Email: info@srca.org.sa
Address: PO Box 11129, Riyadh