Last updated: 10 October 2026
A Miqat is the boundary where you must enter ihram before Umrah or Hajj. There are five: Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali, Madinah), Al-Juhfah (Rabigh), Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sayl Al-Kabir and Wadi Muharram, near Taif), Yalamlam (As-Sa’diyah) and Dhat Irq (Ad-Daribah). Use the one on your route: residents of Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Taif use Qarn al-Manazil, Madinah uses Dhul Hulayfah, Jeddah residents enter ihram from home, and anyone already in Makkah goes out to the Hil, usually Masjid Aisha at At-Taneem.
The Five Miqat at a Glance
| Miqat | Mosque or place today | For people coming from | Distance to Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhul Hulayfah | Masjid Ash-Shajarah, Abyar Ali (Bir Ali), about 14 km from the Prophet’s Mosque | Madinah, and anyone travelling via Madinah | About 430 to 450 km |
| Al-Juhfah | The Miqat at Rabigh | The north and northwest coast (Tabuk, Yanbu), Egypt, the Levant | About 180 km |
| Qarn al-Manazil | As-Sayl Al-Kabir mosque (Taif to Makkah road) and Wadi Muharram mosque (Al-Hada road) | Riyadh, Najd, the Eastern Province, Taif, the Gulf by road | About 75 to 80 km |
| Yalamlam | As-Sa’diyah mosque, Al-Lith Governorate | Jazan, Asir and the south by the coastal road, Yemen | About 85 to 130 km (sources differ) |
| Dhat Irq | Ad-Daribah | Iraq and the north on the old Iraqi road | About 90 to 100 km |
Distances are approximate and vary between official sources. The four Miqat of Madinah, Al-Juhfah, Qarn al-Manazil and Yalamlam were set by the Prophet (peace be upon him) (Sahih al-Bukhari 1524), and Dhat Irq by Umar ibn al-Khattab (Sahih al-Bukhari 1531). Each Miqat is for its own people and for anyone who passes it intending Umrah or Hajj.
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Follow on WhatsAppWhich Miqat to Use From Your City
| You are travelling from | Miqat | Where to stop |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh by road | Qarn al-Manazil | As-Sayl Al-Kabir mosque on the Taif to Makkah road, or Wadi Muharram if you go through Taif |
| Dammam, Khobar or Jubail by road | Qarn al-Manazil | As-Sayl Al-Kabir or Wadi Muharram, same as Riyadh |
| Taif | Qarn al-Manazil | Wadi Muharram on the Al-Hada road (closest to Taif) or As-Sayl Al-Kabir |
| Madinah by road | Dhul Hulayfah | Masjid Ash-Shajarah at Abyar Ali, on the way out of Madinah |
| Madinah by Haramain train | Dhul Hulayfah | Wear ihram before boarding; make the intention when the train passes the Miqat, shortly after leaving Madinah |
| Tabuk, Yanbu or the north coast by road | Al-Juhfah | The Miqat at Rabigh |
| Jazan, Abha or the south by the coastal road | Yalamlam | As-Sa’diyah mosque |
| Jeddah (you live there) | None needed | Enter ihram from home |
| Makkah (you live or are staying there) | The Hil | Go outside the Haram boundary, usually Masjid Aisha at At-Taneem |
Rule of thumb: use the first Miqat your route passes. From Qassim, Hail and the north, most drivers join the Taif road and pass As-Sayl Al-Kabir; the old northern road passes Dhat Irq. Anyone who lives inside the Miqat boundary, for example in Bahra, Al-Jumum or Rabigh town, enters ihram from where they live.
Flying to Jeddah: Enter Ihram on the Plane
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says pilgrims arriving by air must not pass the Miqat, or the point level with it, without ihram, and that King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is neither a Miqat nor a place to enter ihram. In practice:
- Do ghusl and put on the ihram clothes at home or at the departure airport before boarding.
- Make the intention and start the Talbiyah when the plane is level with the Miqat. Many airlines announce it, often about 30 minutes before.
- On domestic flights from Riyadh, Dammam or Abha to Jeddah, the plane crosses the Miqat line roughly half an hour before landing.
- If you fly to Madinah first and visit the Prophet’s Mosque, you do not need ihram on that flight. Enter ihram at Dhul Hulayfah when you leave Madinah for Makkah.
Umrah From Makkah: Masjid Aisha (Taneem) and Other Hil Points
People already in Makkah, whether residents or pilgrims doing another Umrah, must go outside the Haram boundary (to the Hil) to enter ihram. Sheikh Ibn Baz listed At-Taneem, Al-Ji’ranah and Arafat “or others”: any point outside the Haram is valid.
- Masjid Aisha (Masjid At-Taneem): about 7 to 7.5 km north of the Grand Mosque on the Makkah to Madinah road. It holds about 15,000 worshippers and has parking for buses and cars, washrooms, water coolers and shops selling ihram clothes. It is the nearest and most used point.
- Masjid Al-Ji’ranah: northeast of Makkah, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered ihram for Umrah after the Battle of Hunayn.
- Al-Hudaybiyah (Ash-Shumaisi): on the old Jeddah road at the edge of the Haram boundary; enter ihram on the outer side.
If You Pass the Miqat Without Ihram
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You intended Umrah and passed the Miqat without ihram | Go back to the Miqat and enter ihram there. Nothing is due. |
| You intended Umrah and entered ihram after the Miqat (for example in Jeddah) | The Umrah is valid, but a sacrifice is due: one sheep slaughtered in Makkah for the poor (the Ministry calls it Fidyah). |
| You went to Jeddah for work or family with no plan for Umrah, then decided | Enter ihram from where you decided. Nothing is due. |
These rulings follow the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the fatwas of Sheikh Ibn Baz. For an unusual case, ask a scholar before you travel.
Facilities at the Main Miqat Mosques
- Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali): reopened after a 2026 upgrade by the Madinah Region Development Authority, with room for more than 15,000 pilgrims, a bus courtyard, separate gates for men and women, free electric carts for elderly and disabled pilgrims, and shops for ihram clothes and food.
- As-Sayl Al-Kabir and Wadi Muharram: dedicated ihram changing areas, washrooms and ablution areas, shops for pilgrim supplies, and parking for cars and buses.
- As-Sa’diyah (Yalamlam): a 10,000 square metre mosque for more than 5,000 worshippers, recently developed by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites.
Bring your own ihram clothes if you can; the shops at the Miqat get busy in peak season.
Do You Need a Nusuk Permit?
Yes. Every Umrah needs a permit in the Nusuk app, for citizens, residents and visitors. Residents register with their iqama number. You can hold one active permit at a time, children over five need their own permit, and repeating Umrah has no fee. The 1448 AH Umrah season opened on 1 June 2026. Last year, Nusuk Umrah permits were suspended for everyone from 18 April to 31 May 2026 for the Hajj season; the 2027 dates have not been announced yet. Visitors coming from abroad can read our Umrah visa 1448 guide.
Planning your trip? See the best times to perform Umrah, the Haramain train guide and places to visit in Makkah. To convert dates in the Umrah calendar, use our Hijri date converter. The Ministry also publishes an Umrah guide in 16 languages on its guides page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jeddah a Miqat?
Not for people arriving from outside. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah states that King Abdulaziz International Airport is neither a Miqat nor a place for entering ihram, so pilgrims flying in must enter ihram when the plane is level with their Miqat. Jeddah residents, and people who only decide on Umrah after reaching Jeddah, enter ihram from Jeddah.
Which Miqat do I use from Riyadh?
Qarn al-Manazil. By road, that is the As-Sayl Al-Kabir mosque on the Taif to Makkah road, or the Wadi Muharram mosque if you drive through Taif and down the Al-Hada road. On a flight from Riyadh to Jeddah, enter ihram before the plane passes the Qarn al-Manazil line, about half an hour before landing.
Is Masjid Aisha (Taneem) a Miqat?
Masjid Aisha at At-Taneem is the nearest point outside the Haram boundary, so people already in Makkah use it to enter ihram for Umrah. It is not one of the five Miqat for people coming from outside. Any point outside the Haram, such as Al-Ji’ranah, is also valid for people in Makkah.
Can I put on ihram at home before reaching the Miqat?
Yes. You can wear the ihram clothes at home, at the hotel or before boarding a flight, and make the intention at the Miqat or when you are level with it. Entering ihram before the Miqat is valid, although doing it at the Miqat follows the Sunnah.
What happens if I pass the Miqat without ihram?
Go back to the Miqat and enter ihram there; nothing is due. If you enter ihram after passing it instead, the Umrah is valid but a sacrifice (one sheep, slaughtered in Makkah for the poor) is due. If you had no plan for Umrah when you passed and decided later, enter ihram from where you decided.
Sources: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Miqaats page, FAQ and 1448 AH season calendar); Saudipedia pages on the Mawaqit; Sahih al-Bukhari 1524 and 1531, Sahih Muslim 1181; fatwas of Sheikh Ibn Baz (1640, 2376, 17880, 18448, 24934); Saudi Press Agency and Pilgrim Experience Program news on the Miqat mosques.