Mecca

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.