Complete Miqat Locations Guide for Umrah Pilgrims

What is the Miqat?

In Islam, the Miqat (plural: Mawaqit) refers to the boundary point which pilgrims intending to perform Umrah or Hajj must not cross without being in a state of Ihram (the sacred state of purity).

There are five official Miqat locations, designated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, based on the direction from which you are traveling.

1. Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali)

• For pilgrims coming from: Madinah and beyond.
• Distance to Makkah: ~450 km
• Details: This is the farthest Miqat from Makkah. If you land in Madinah, stay a few days, and then travel to Makkah by taxi or train, you will enter Ihram here. There is a very large, well-equipped mosque complex where pilgrims can shower and change.

2. Al-Juhfah (Near Rabigh)

• For pilgrims coming from: Syria, Egypt, North Africa, and Europe.
• Distance to Makkah: ~190 km
• Details: Most pilgrims traveling by road along the Red Sea coast will pass through here.

3. Qarn Al-Manazil (As-Sail Al-Kabeer)

• For pilgrims coming from: Najd (Riyadh region), Taif, and the GCC (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait).
• Distance to Makkah: ~85 km
• Details: If you are taking a taxi from Taif or driving from Riyadh, this is your Miqat. It is located in a mountainous area.

4. Yalamlam (Sa'adiyah)

• For pilgrims coming from: Yemen and regions to the south of Saudi Arabia.
• Distance to Makkah: ~130 km
• Details: Typically used by pilgrims driving from the southern borders.

5. Dhat Irq

• For pilgrims coming from: Iraq, Iran, and points east.
• Distance to Makkah: ~90 km
• Details: Located to the northeast of Makkah.

What if you land at Jeddah Airport?

Jeddah is inside the Miqat boundary. Therefore, if your intention is Umrah, you must assume Ihram before your flight crosses the Miqat boundary in the air. Most airlines announce when the plane is approaching the Miqat (usually 20-30 minutes before landing in Jeddah).

Taxi Tip: If you forgot to enter Ihram before arriving in Jeddah, you must travel outside the Miqat boundary to enter Ihram correctly, which requires hiring a taxi to take you to the nearest Miqat (usually Al-Juhfah) and back. Ensure you prepare beforehand!