Religious Building · Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, serving as the holiest and most important mosque in Islam.
Photo: Saudipics.com via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Mecca, Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious Building |
| Height | Height: 137.5 m |
| Coordinates | 21.4225° N, 39.8261° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Masjid al-Haram is known for
Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, serving as the holiest and most important mosque in Islam.
About Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, serving as the holiest and most important mosque in Islam. It is the largest mosque in the world.
History
According to Islamic tradition in the Quran, Abraham, together with his son Ismael, raised the foundations of a house, which has been identified by commentators as the Kaaba. After Abraham had built the Kaaba, an angel is said to have brought him the Black Stone, a celestial stone that, according to tradition, had fallen from Heaven on the nearby hill Abu Qubays. The Black Stone is believed by Islamic scholars to be the only remnant of the original structure made by Abraham.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Masjid al-Haram website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Mecca |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) |
| Distance from the airport | 46.7 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Taif International Airport (TIF) · Taif, Saudi Arabia · 46.4 miles away
- King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) · Jeddah, Saudi Arabia · 46.5 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Saudi Arabia
More religious buildings
Frequently asked questions
What is Masjid al-Haram?
Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, serving as the holiest and most important mosque in Islam.
Where is Masjid al-Haram located?
Masjid al-Haram is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Its coordinates are 21.4225° N, 39.8261° E.
How do I get to Masjid al-Haram?
The nearest town is Mecca, and the nearest airport is King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), about 46.7 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Masjid al-Haram?
According to Islamic tradition in the Quran, Abraham, together with his son Ismael, raised the foundations of a house, which has been identified by commentators as the Kaaba. After Abraham had built the Kaaba, an angel is said to have brought him the Black Stone, a celestial stone that, according to tradition, had fallen from Heaven on the nearby hill Abu Qubays.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masjid_al-Haram — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q428858 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.gph.gov.sa/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.