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Mecca
Location CityMecca, Saudi Arabia, is the holiest city in Islam and the location where Ramadan fasting begins.
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About
Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, holds immense significance as the holiest city in Islam. It is the focal point for the annual Hajj pilgrimage and the direction (Qibla) towards which Muslims pray. Recent news focuses on Mecca as the location for determining the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. The exact date, either February 18th or 19th in 2026, depends on the sighting of the new moon in Mecca. While Saudi Arabia's moon-sighting committee makes the initial announcement, other countries may follow their own local moon sightings or astronomical calculations. Mecca's role in determining the start of Ramadan underscores its continued religious importance for nearly two billion Muslims worldwide.
Last updated: July 15, 2026
News from Mecca
‘London cooking’: Why can’t the UK cope with the heat; when will it adapt?
When Paris is hotter than Mecca: How Europe’s heatwave compares globally
Deaths, disruptions across Europe: What you should know about the heatwave
Father of Australian girl shot by police while visiting Pakistan demands justice
Global heating is making hajj ever more dangerous, report finds
Man jailed for 15 years over plot to attack Taylor Swift concert in Vienna
Al Jazeera speaks to Hajj pilgrims about their journey to Mecca
More than 1.5m foreign pilgrims begin Hajj despite Iran war fears
