Sprawling west of Masjid al-Haram, Al Zahra is a quiet residential neighbourhood in Mecca. It’s a convenient base for pilgrims visiting the cloth-covered Kaaba, one of Islam’s most sacred shrines, and is within easy access to the cultural attractions and beaches of Jeddah.
Things to do in Az Zahra
Stroll through the streets of Al Zahra to admire its many mosques or pick up a souvenir at one of the stores selling traditional clothing and homewares. An abundance of eateries line the neighbourhood’s main thoroughfares, with everything from hot pot to traditional Arabic cuisine on offer.
Don’t miss Abraj al-Bayt, a complex of seven skyscrapers known as the “Towers of the Clock”. The complex encompasses the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, the 650-metre-high Makkah Clock Royal Tower, which is home to the four-floor Clock Tower Museum. Discover how time was measured in years gone by and the role of the sun and moon in organising daily activities. Panoramic views of Mecca can be enjoyed from the balcony.
Al Zahra is on the doorstep of the largest mosque in the world, Masjid al-Haram, which surrounds the sacred Kaaba. The mosque dates back to the 16th century but has undergone many renovations since and is an important pilgrimage site for Muslims the world over. In addition to its prayer halls, the mosque is home to the Station of Ibrahim and the Zamzam Well, which is said to have never dried up.
Getting around Az Zahra
Al Zahra is around 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Mecca and just under an hour from Jeddah. King Abdulaziz International Airport is just over an hour away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Taxis are the most convenient way of getting to and around Al Zahra.