7 Special Fun Facts About Makkah (Mecca Facts)

Scott Ingram
WRITTEN BY
Scott Ingram

We dive into 7 interesting facts about Makkah from the meaning of its name and its history to the spiritual significance of this holy city.

About Makkah al Mukarramah

Makkah Al-Mukarramah is commonly referred to as Makkah. The city is also known as Mecca in the West. This article will use both names.

Makkah is a city of deep religious significance to the Islamic religion. It is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As the holiest city in Islam, Makkah plays a central role in the Middle East and the wider Islamic world.

Makkah is located in Western Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a key destination for the Hajj pilgrimage, during which millions of Muslims visit its city centers and holy sites, including the revered Black Stone.

Pilgrims visiting for Hajj or Umrah must prepare for both spiritual and physical endurance.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage involves rituals such as Tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba) and Sa’i (a 3.5 km walk between Safa and Marwah). The pilgrimage lasts 5-6 days and includes a 24-hour stay at the plains of Arafat, known as Wuquf.

The city’s key site is the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam. This stone cube-shaped building is at the center of Islam’s most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque). The Kaaba is the holy shrine toward which Muslims worldwide direct their prayers.

As a non-Muslim, I am not allowed to enter Mecca, but I am fascinated by its rich history and will share my favorite fun facts about the city.

1. The name “Makkah” translates to many things

The name Makkah has multiple origins, with different potential meanings:

  1. Arid Nature: From the word “tamakkah” (تمكه), meaning “to draw out all water,” possibly referring to the valley’s dryness.
  2. Valley: From a Semitic term meaning “valley” or “lacking water,” reflecting the geographical landscape in the early history of the city.
  3. Sacred Enclosure: Mentioned as “Makoraba” by the Greek geographer Ptolemy in 150 CE.
  4. Low-Lying Land: From “mak,” referring to low-lying land between mountains.
  5. Crowds and Movement: Derived from “makk,” the sound associated with crowding and movement, symbolic of pilgrim gatherings.

Makkah’s full name is “Makkah al-Mukarramah” (مكة المكرمة), which adds the honorific meaning “the Noble” or “the Honored” and highlights the city’s importance in Islam.

The Quran also uses the term “Bakkah,” which is thought to mean “to crowd” or “to weep.” The refers to the gathering of Muslims performing Hajj and the spiritual devotion associated with Makkah.

A view of Mecca as the sun sets in the background.

Makkah is encircled by mountains.

2. Makkah is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad

Mecca is one of the oldest cities in Islam and holds deep historical and religious significance as the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, born in 570 AD. It is the holiest city in Islam and a central location for Islamic practices, especially the Hajj pilgrimage. Hajj is the world’s largest human gathering, during which devout and able Muslims worldwide gather.

3. Makkah’s population triples during Hajj season

Makkah’s population of 2.4 million typically doubles or triples during Hajj season. In 2019, before COVID, 2.5 million pilgrims attended Hajj. In 2023, Makkah welcomed 10.8 million international visitors throughout the year, making it one of the world’s most visited cities. Of those, 1.8 million pilgrims performed Hajj in 2023.

Religious tourism is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest income source, behind petroleum, contributing $122 billion annually to the economy.

The Kaaba stands in the center of the grand mosque. Many people are gathered around it. Learn more fun facts about Makkah.

Makkah is especially busy during Hajj.

4. Islamic tradition holds that Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail built the Kaaba

The Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail built the Kaaba, which is located in the Great Mosque. This structure serves as the focal point for Muslim prayer worldwide.

The Kaaba is covered in a black cloth called the kiswah and has undergone various changes throughout history. It now features one door and no windows.

5. The world’s largest clock with one of the world’s highest prayer rooms overlooks one of the world’s largest human gatherings and the world’s largest mosque

In the late 1990s, as millions of pilgrims continued streaming into the holy city each year, Saudi Arabia recognized the pressing need to reimagine Makkah’s infrastructure. Their vision materialized in 2004 with the groundbreaking of the Abraj Al Bait complex. This project that would transform the ancient skyline and symbolize Makkah’s evolution from a historic religious center into a modern global hub.

In the city’s most congested area, near the holy Kaaba and within Mecca’s first Ring Road, the complex’s centerpiece exceeded its original plans. The design started as a 450-meter hotel, but later it became expanded to a minaret that would touch the sky.

Engineers drew inspiration from the Eiffel Tower’s framework and crafted a structure from carbon fiber, protected by a concave face to withstand winds of 125.4 mph.

Many components were manufactured in Dubai and transported to Makkah. In fact, many of the engineers, architects and builders converted to Islam so they could work on the project inside the holy city of Makkah.

The tower’s timepiece contains over 2 million LEDs, chosen in green and white. Green offered visibility that would make the clock face readable from long distances.

The completed tower stands 1,971 feet (601 meters) into the sky with a prayer room at 558 meters, offering worshippers panoramic views of the Sacred Mosque and the Kaaba below, where the revered Black Stone rests in its eastern corner.

The Abraj Al Bait complex is a blend of Islamic tradition and modern engineering achievement. More than just the world’s largest hotel development or the home of the world’s largest clock face, it stands as a sentinel over one of humanity’s greatest gatherings, where millions converge annually for Hajj at the Masjid al-Haram.

The clock tower is a first in Islamic history, a central timekeeper for the Islamic world that helps Muslims worldwide synchronize their prayers and celebrations.

Worshippers visit a mosque in Makkah.

The Kabaah stands at the center of the Masjid al-Haram Mosque.

The top 10 tallest buildings in the world, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, are:

Ranking Building City (Country) Height (ft)
1 Burj Khalifa Dubai (UAE) 2,717
2 Merdeka 118 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) 2,227
3 Shanghai Tower Shanghai (China) 2,073
4 Makkah Royal Clock Tower Mecca (Saudi Arabia) 1,972
5 Ping An Finance Center Shenzhen (China) 1,965
6 Lotte World Tower Seoul (South Korea) 1,819
7 One World Trade Center New York City (USA) 1,776
8 Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre Guangzhou (China) 1,739
8 Tianjin CTF Finance Centre Tianjin (China) 1,739
10 CITIC Tower Beijing (China) 1,731
A view of the Makkah royal clock tower against the blue sky.

The Makkah Clock Royal Tower is the fourth-tallest building in the world.

6. Makkah was never the capital of any Islamic empire

Makkah was never the capital of any Islamic empire. Muslim rulers established their capitals elsewhere: the Umayyads (661-750 CE) ruled from Damascus, the Abbasids (750-1258 CE) built Baghdad, and the Ottomans (1299-1923 CE) governed from Istanbul.

Makkah maintained its position as Islam’s spiritual center, housing the Kaaba and hosting the annual Hajj pilgrimage, while political power resided in these administrative capitals.

A man stands silhouetted against the nightscape of Makkah.

Makkah has never been the capital of any Islamic empire.

7. In English, “Mecca” refers to any place attracting large crowds

The word “Mecca” has entered popular English usage to describe a destination that draws large numbers of people. This stems from the city’s importance as a pilgrimage site.


Frequently Asked Questions About Makkah (Makkah FAQ)

Mecca is a holy city in Saudi Arabia where Muslims visit to pray.

Makkah is famous for being the birthplace of Islam and the destination for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The difference between Makkah and Mecca is that Makkah is the Arabic name for the city used in Islamic texts and by Arabic speakers, while Mecca is the anglicized name used in English-speaking contexts.

Umrah can be performed at any time of the year, but Hajj occurs during specific dates in the Islamic lunar calendar. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a mandatory pilgrimage for Muslims who are able to undertake it at least once in their life. Umrah, on the other hand, is a voluntary but encouraged pilgrimage. Hajj includes specific rituals performed over several days, while Umrah rituals are fewer and can be completed in a shorter time.

Mecca is special as it is the spiritual center of Islam, where millions of Muslims perform Hajj every year. Mecca holds religious significance due to the Kaaba and its connection to the life of Prophet Muhammad.

The most famous thing in Mecca is the Kaaba, located inside the Masjid al-Haram.

Mecca was originally built by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, according to Islamic tradition.

Mecca is part of Saudi Arabia and overseen by the Saudi government.

Muslims face Mecca during prayer as a symbol of unity and direction towards the Kaaba.

Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the city of Mecca.

Yes, Muslim children are allowed to go to Mecca with their families.

No, both men and women are allowed to visit Mecca, but everyone must follow religious guidelines.

About the Author
Scott Ingram

Scott is the Director of Admissions at Rustic Pathways. He has spent the last 15 years in the student travel and experiential education world. Before helping families find the perfect Rustic Pathways program, he led gap year programs that took students around the world and spent three years teaching English in Japan.