Official Haramain Maps: Finding Your Way Around Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi

Quick answer: the authority that runs the Two Holy Mosques has free interactive maps of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, in seven languages. They show prayer areas, toilets, service offices and guidance centres, and open from a QR code or a link without downloading an app. Start from the official map page, and use the map alongside your hotel's directions, an agreed meeting point and the signs and staff on site.

Plan the rest of your stay: hotels near the Haram in Makkah on Trip.com or Agoda | in Madinah on Trip.com | Hotels.com | flights on Kayak | transfers with Kiwitaxi | a Saudi eSIM from Airalo

You can know your hotel's name and still have practical questions. Which way will you walk to the mosque? Where are the toilets? Where will everyone meet afterwards?

The official Haramain maps are a good place to start. Haramain means the two holy mosques: Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah. The best preparation is to look up the handful of places you will actually need, then save them in a way everyone in your group can use.

Before you book: the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, which includes Makkah and Madinah, and warns of a heightened threat to airports in the country. Travel insurance can be invalid if you travel against FCDO advice. Read the latest FCDO advice for Saudi Arabia before you book anything, and check it again before you fly.

Where to find the official maps

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque launched the interactive map in February 2026. The Saudi Press Agency's report says it works in seven languages, helps visitors find their location and the nearest route to where they are going, and opens from a QR code with no app to download. SPA covered the service again on 24 October 2026.

These are the official English map links:

Mosque	Official map	Use it to
Masjid al-Haram, Makkah	Grand Mosque map	Find the side of the complex you will approach from your hotel and the facilities near it
Masjid an-Nabawi, Madinah	Prophet's Mosque map	Learn the layout and the side facing your hotel
Either mosque	Map selection page	Start here if a direct link does not open or the address changes

The direct map links did not load for us from the UK, while the official reports and selection page did. Try them before you travel, but expect to rely on the QR codes once you are there.

Look up three places first

According to the authority's announcement, the map marks prayer areas, toilets, service offices and guidance centres. Those are the places most worth finding before you need them.

Your way in and where you plan to pray

Start from the direction you will walk from your hotel. Ask the hotel to explain the walking route from its actual entrance, then match that to the mosque map.

If you are staying in a big hotel complex, save the hotel entrance and your approach to the mosque as two separate points. A pin in the middle of a huge building is not much help when you are trying to find the right door on the way back.

On the day, follow the entrance arrangements in use. A familiar route helps, but signs and staff should guide the last part of your approach.

Toilets and somewhere to ask for help

Find these before you need them. If you are travelling with children or someone who prefers shorter walks, make the nearest facilities part of your first look around.

Save the location of a guidance centre too. It gives you a real place to ask about the layout, instead of trying to solve everything on a phone while the rest of the group waits.

A meeting point everyone understands

Choose a place that is easy to recognise and that your group has seen together. Agree where to stand without blocking an entrance or a walkway, and what to do if someone cannot get there.

"Meet outside" leaves too much to guesswork. A short written description of the spot, with a photo of a nearby sign where photos are allowed, is much easier to follow. Give everyone the hotel's name, address and phone number as well.

Match the mosque map to your hotel route

When you choose a hotel, think about the whole walk: hotel entrance, approach to the mosque, then the area you expect to use. It helps you ask better questions before you book a room.

Good questions to ask the hotel:

• Which entrance should we use to walk to the mosque?
• Can you describe the walk from that door?
• Does the usual route include steps, slopes or a road crossing?
• If someone uses a wheelchair, which route do you recommend?

An accessible facility on the map is a starting point for that conversation. Check the full route for the person who will use it, including the hotel entrance and any changes in level.

Our guide to hotel distances near the Haramain covers the hotel side in more detail. When you compare hotels, keep the property, dates and guests the same on each site, for example Hotels.com, Agoda, Expedia and Trip.com for Makkah or Madinah, then check the walking route with the hotel itself.

Compare hotel prices on Expedia

Keep the essentials on your phone

Before you head out, have these ready to find quickly:

Save or check	Why it helps
Hotel name, address and phone number	You can always get back, or show a driver where you are going
Your group's meeting point	Everyone works from the same description
The official map links	You can reopen them without searching
A screenshot of the area you use	A quick reference, though it will not show later changes to routes
Battery and mobile data	Maps and messages work when you need them

For mobile data, compare your UK network's Saudi roaming deal with an eSIM. Look at the total price, the data allowance, how long it lasts, when it starts and whether calls are included. If two adults may spend time apart, make sure each has their own connection.

Airalo, Yesim and World eSIM (10% off with the code TRAVAIROFF) all sell Saudi Arabia plans, and our Saudi eSIM guide compares them. Check that your phone supports eSIM before you buy. Our Umrah packing list is handy for the charger, power bank and other daily essentials.

Give everyone a part in the plan

Do a quick run-through with your group: "This is our hotel address, this is where we meet, and this is where the map link is saved." Ask each person to find those details on their own phone or paper note.

For anyone who would rather keep their phone in their pocket, write the hotel details and meeting instructions on a small card. The plan only works if everyone can use it.

If you are planning in Madinah too, our Madinah hotel guide helps with the hotel side, and Madinah tours on GetYourGuide can fill a free afternoon. Keep everything else together in the free DIY Umrah Planner.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official map of Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi?

Yes. The authority that runs the Two Holy Mosques publishes free interactive maps of both, in seven languages. They show prayer areas, toilets, service offices and guidance centres, and open from QR codes at the mosques or from its website.

Do I need to download an app to use the Haramain maps?

No. According to the Saudi Press Agency's report on the launch, visitors open the map by scanning a QR code and can use it straight away without downloading an extra app.

Can I use the Haramain map to choose a hotel?

It helps you understand the mosque layout, but it will not tell you everything about a hotel's walk. Ask the hotel about the route from its actual entrance, including steps, slopes and accessibility.

Can I rely on a screenshot of the map for directions?

Use a screenshot as a rough reference only. It cannot update when entrances or routes change, so follow the signs and staff instructions at the mosque on the day.

What should I do if the official Haramain map will not load?

Try the authority's main map selection page or scan a QR code at the mosque. If neither works, ask your hotel for directions and use the signs and guidance centres on site.

Sources: we checked the Saudi Press Agency reports of 26 February and 24 October 2026 and the authority's map pages on 27 October 2026. We could not test the live maps themselves, so routes and individual features may differ from the descriptions here.