Last updated: 16 October 2026
Masjid Nabawi parking is underground, directly beneath the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. It holds about 4,300 cars, has six entrances on the main streets around the mosque, and costs SR 1.15 an hour for the first two hours. Escalators bring you straight up into the mosque courtyards.
This guide covers the parking fees, monthly passes, booking in the Mawgif app, the entrances, how to find your car again, and where to park free when the car park is full. Coming by train instead? See our Haramain train guide.
Masjid Nabawi Parking at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | Underground, beneath the Prophet’s Mosque and its courtyards |
| Capacity | About 4,300 cars in 24 parking units on two levels |
| Entrances | 6, linked to the main streets around the mosque |
| Hourly fee | SR 1.15 (first 2 hours), SR 2.30 (2 to 8 hours), SR 3.45 (after 8 hours), VAT included |
| Monthly or annual pass | Yes, 8 of the 24 units are for subscribers |
| Book or pay by phone | Mawgif app |
| Into the mosque | 112 escalators and 12 lifts to the courtyards |
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Masjid Nabawi Parking Fees in 2026
The underground car park charges by the hour, and the hourly rate rises the longer you stay. These are the rates in October 2026:
| How long you park | Rate per hour | Example |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 hours | SR 1.15 | 1 hour: SR 1.15 |
| From 2 to 8 hours | SR 2.30 | 3 hours: about SR 4.60 |
| After 8 hours | SR 3.45 | A full day costs far more than a prayer visit |
The numbers look odd because VAT is included: SR 1.15 is one riyal plus 15% VAT, SR 2.30 is two riyals plus VAT and SR 3.45 is three riyals plus VAT. Rates can change in Ramadan, Hajj and other peak periods, so check the rate on the pay machine or in the app when you visit.
How to pay: at the self-service machines near the stairways and exits, which take cards and mada, or in the Mawgif app without visiting a machine.
Monthly and Annual Parking Subscription
If you live in Madinah or stay for weeks, a pass is cheaper and quicker than paying by the hour. Of the car park’s 24 units, 8 are set aside for subscribers and 16 for pay-as-you-go parking (Saudipedia). Monthly and annual passes are offered in the Mawgif app; choose the pass, link it to your car’s plate number and pay from the app wallet.
Booking Masjid Nabawi Parking in the Mawgif App
- Download the Mawgif app (some people search for it as Mawqif) and create an account.
- Register your car with its plate number.
- Add credit to the app wallet.
- Choose hourly parking or a monthly or annual pass for the Prophet’s Mosque car park, and pay.
Set the app up before you travel. Trying to register at the ramp before Maghrib or Friday prayer is where most visitors lose time.
Entrances to the Underground Parking
The car park is reached through six entrances linked to the main streets around the mosque (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah). Entrances are on the north side near Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road, the south side near Quba Road, the west side near Umar bin Al-Khattab Road, and on Prince Abdulmohsin Road.
The levels connect inside, so the entrance you use does not decide where you park. Each unit has its own lifts and escalators that come up near particular gates, and some lead straight to women’s gates, so families often pick the unit nearest the gate they want. Drive on to the unit nearest your hotel or the gate you want, rather than taking the first free space by the ramp. From the car park, 112 escalators and 12 lifts take you up into the courtyards (SPA).
How to Find Your Car Again
- Photograph the unit sign where you park. With 24 units on two levels, “underground” tells you nothing two hours later.
- Note the gate number you come up at. Mosque gates are numbered, and “I came up at Gate 15” is easy to remember.
- Use the app: if you booked in Mawgif, your booking shows where you parked.
- Staying several days? Do not assume you can leave the car for several days at a time. Ask the staff or check the rules in the app first.
- Agree a meeting point at a named gate with your family before you split up. Finding each other at a gate is much easier than underground.
Best Times to Park
- Quietest: between Fajr and Dhuhr on weekdays.
- Busy: from Asr to Maghrib, with the sharpest peak just before Maghrib.
- Busiest: Friday prayer, Ramadan evenings and public holidays. For Jummah, arrive a couple of hours early, and see the expected Ramadan 2027 dates if you are planning ahead.
- Leaving: waiting 20 minutes after a big prayer usually gets you out faster than joining the queue at once.
- Long stays cost more: the hourly rate triples after 8 hours, so for a full day a free lot further out can make sense.
Work back from the adhan time, not your own schedule: see prayer times for Madinah. Planning Umrah? The Umrah season dates for 1448 AH tell you how busy Madinah will be, and our guide to the best times to perform Umrah shows the quieter weeks.
Free Parking Near Masjid Nabawi
When the underground car park is full, or if you would rather not pay, there are open parking areas around the central area of Madinah. The pattern is always the same: the closer the lot, the earlier it fills.
- Lots within a 10 to 20 minute walk are usually full well before the main prayers. Arrive 60 to 90 minutes before Fajr, Maghrib or Isha.
- Lots 25 to 40 minutes away nearly always have space, and some are served by shuttle buses to the mosque.
- Pick a first choice and a backup before you set off, so you are not circling.
- Park only in marked bays and follow the attendants: parking fines and towing both apply.
For most visitors the underground car park is still the better choice: the fee is low and there is no walk. Free lots make sense for all-day stays or the busiest Ramadan nights.
Emergency Numbers in Madinah
In the Madinah region the unified emergency number is 911 for police, ambulance and Civil Defense. Inside the car park, tell the nearest attendant or security officer if you need help. If a Civil Defense alert reaches your phone while you are at the mosque, see what to do when an emergency alert arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there parking at Masjid Nabawi?
Yes. The underground car park beneath the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah holds about 4,300 cars and is reached through six entrances on the main streets around the mosque. Escalators and lifts take you straight up into the mosque courtyards, so you do not need to walk in from the street.
How much is Masjid Nabawi parking per hour?
In October 2026 the rate is SR 1.15 an hour for the first two hours, SR 2.30 an hour from two to eight hours and SR 3.45 an hour after eight hours, VAT included. A three-hour visit costs about SR 4.60. Rates can change in Ramadan and Hajj, so check the pay machine or the app.
Is Masjid Nabawi parking free?
No. The underground car park charges a low hourly fee. Free parking is available in open lots around the central area of Madinah, but the ones close to the mosque fill up well before the main prayers, and the further ones can mean a long walk or a shuttle bus.
Can I get a monthly parking subscription at Masjid Nabawi?
Yes. Part of the car park is set aside for subscribers: 8 of its 24 parking units, according to Saudipedia, with the other 16 for pay-as-you-go parking. Monthly and annual passes are offered through the Mawgif parking app, which is the easier option if you pray at the mosque every day.
Can I book Masjid Nabawi parking in advance?
Yes. The Mawgif app lets you register your car by its plate number, add credit to the app wallet and reserve or pay for a space in the car park under the Prophet’s Mosque. Set it up before you travel rather than at the ramp, especially for Ramadan evenings and Friday prayers.
How do I find my car in the Masjid Nabawi underground parking?
Photograph the unit sign where you park and note the number of the mosque gate you come up at. The car park is split into 24 units across two levels, so the unit sign and the gate number are what get you back to your car, not a general memory of where you went down.
Visiting Makkah as well? See the historical and holy places to visit in Makkah.
Sources: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Prophet’s Mosque information (capacity, entrances); Saudi Press Agency (escalators and lifts); Saudipedia (parking units); hourly rates as charged in October 2026, matching recent Google Maps visitor reviews of the car park.