Miqat on the Way to Makkah: Road, Train and Plane

Most guides list the five miqats and stop there. The question travellers actually ask is different: I am going from Madinah by bus, or flying into Jeddah, or taking the train, so where does the miqat fall on my trip and what do I need to arrange? This guide goes route by route.

A note on what this is. ZiyaraGo is an independent information service. We explain the geography and the logistics; we do not give religious rulings, and the arrangements differ between organisers, airlines and operators. Distances are approximate. Confirm every step with your organiser, your airline and the official sources. For the full list of the five points, see our guide to the miqats.

Start with the route, not with the miqat

The miqat you pass is decided by the direction of travel, not by your passport. A traveller from the same country may pass different points on different trips. So the first step is to write down the route: where you start, which city or airport you pass through and how you travel.

The second step is to ask the organiser one precise question: where exactly is the stop on this route, and how long will it last? The answer tells you whether to plan an extra hour, where to prepare in advance and what to carry with you.

From Madinah by road: Dhul Hulayfah

On the road from Madinah to Makkah, about 450 km, the miqat is Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali). It lies about 18 km southwest of the Prophet’s Mosque, so you reach it early in the journey, at the start of the long drive. Tour buses, private cars and taxis on this route normally pass it.

The site has a large mosque, areas for ablution and shaded places to rest, which makes it a convenient stop. Because the stop is at the start of the trip, prepare before you leave the hotel, keep your documents and water within reach, and ask the driver or the organiser how long the group will wait. Intercity buses that stop here take longer than non-stop transfers, so check the total time before you book.

• Masjid Dhul-Hulayfah (Miqat) — To the Prophet's Mosque: 9.1 km in a straight line

From Madinah by high-speed train

The Haramain high-speed railway links Madinah and Makkah in roughly two to two and three-quarter hours, with Rabigh and Jeddah on the line. It is the fastest way between the two cities and avoids the long road.

We have not found an official statement describing how the miqat is handled on the train, and arrangements may differ by operator and by time. Ask your organiser how the train journey is planned, check the information at the station and on the official timetable site of the railway, and do not rely on a guess made in the carriage.

From Jeddah airport: where the miqat is

Most travellers who fly to Makkah land in Jeddah. Makkah is about 72 km away, roughly an hour by road outside the busiest seasons. Jeddah itself is not one of the five miqat points. Opinions about arrangements for people who arrive there by air vary, so do not assume anything and ask your organiser or the competent authority before you travel.

For orientation, the nearest of the five points to Jeddah is Al-Juhfah near Rabigh, about 160 km to the north. Taxis and private drivers are available outside the terminal, and the price should be agreed before you set off. If you are in a group, the transfer is normally arranged for you.

• Miqat Al-Juhfah

By plane: what to expect

If your flight passes over a miqat, the arrangements depend on the airline and on your organiser. Some airlines announce the approach of the point about 10 to 20 minutes ahead; others do not. A flight has limited space and no facilities for changing, so many travellers prepare at home or at the airport before boarding and follow the instructions of the organiser.

Ask three things before the flight: what the airline will announce, what you should do before boarding and what happens on a connecting flight. Keep the answers in your phone notes, because the cabin is not the place to start asking.

From Taif and the east: Qarn al-Manazil

Qarn al-Manazil, also called As-Sayl al-Kabir, lies near Taif, about 80 km east of Makkah. It is the closest of the five points to the city and serves the roads from Najd and the east. If you are combining Taif with Makkah, it is on the way and needs the least extra time.

Before the stop, fill up the car and take water, since the stretch between Taif and Makkah is a mountain road.

• Miqat Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sail al-Kabir)

From the south and the coast: Yalamlam

Yalamlam is about 100 km south of Makkah and serves the road from the south and the Red Sea coast. It is a less common route for visitors, so confirm the stop point with the organiser or the driver in advance, rather than looking for it on the road.

For the northern coast and the west, the point is Al-Juhfah, about 180 km from Makkah near Rabigh, which also lies on the Haramain train line.

• Miqat Yalamlam

A practical checklist for the stop

Before you set off, write down four things: the point on your route, the distance from Makkah, the planned duration of the stop and the person to call if the group is separated. Charge your phone and keep a paper copy of the booking.

On the day, allow a reserve of at least an hour in busy seasons and in the midday heat, take water and snacks, carry cash for small expenses and keep your passport with you rather than in the luggage hold. Once you reach Makkah, our guide to where to stay and the article on the boundaries of the Haram help you plan the rest of the trip.

How we chose

We built this guide from the distances in our own place catalogue and from public travel information, including the practical pages of established pilgrim-planning sites, and rewrote everything in our own words. We left out prices and timetables that change often, and every religious question, because the arrangements are set by the authorities and your organiser.

Tips

• Decide your route first; the miqat follows from the route.
• Ask the organiser where the stop is and how long it will take.
• Do not assume how the stop works on a train or a plane; ask in advance.
• Jeddah is not one of the five points; check arrangements before you travel.
• Keep a reserve of an hour or more in busy seasons.

Questions and answers

Which point is on the road from Madinah to Makkah?

Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali), about 18 km southwest of the Prophet’s Mosque.

Is Jeddah one of the five miqat points?

No. The five points are Dhul Hulayfah, Al-Juhfah, Qarn al-Manazil, Yalamlam and Dhat Irq. Ask your organiser how arrangements work if you arrive in Jeddah.

How long is the train from Madinah to Makkah?

Roughly two to two and three-quarter hours; check the official timetable before you travel.

Which point is nearest to Jeddah?

Al-Juhfah near Rabigh, about 160 km north of Jeddah and about 180 km from Makkah.

What should I ask before a flight to Makkah?

What the airline announces, what to do before boarding and how a connecting flight changes the plan.