attractions REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Qiblatain, important as the mosque where the Qiblah, or the direction that Muslims face for prayer, was switched by the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) from Jerusalem to Makkah in 624CE. Entry to the sacred core of Al Madinah is restricted to Muslims only, but non-Mulsims can enter the city itself and access most of its areas, apart from the city centre and adjoining Islamic holy places.
Al Madinah Al Munawarah
One of the holiest places in Islam and also a treasure trove of archaeological sites, Al Madinah Al Munawarah is a place that resonates with history
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Capital of the Al Madinah Province, the city of Al Madinah Al Munawarah, which translates into 'the Radiant City', is Islam’s second holiest site after Makkah and the place where the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) is buried. The city, often referred to as simply Madinah, is situated in one of the most historically rich areas of the world, with several sites around it predating Islam.
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It is also surrounded by regions rich in archaeological treasures with the Al Harra Mountains to the north containing many sites that offer a glimpse of more than 2,000 years of history. The city itself is home to the
three oldest mosques in Islam: the Al Masjid Al Nabawi (The Mosque of the Prophet); the Quba Mosque, which is the fi rst mosque in Islam’s history; and the Masjid Al
1 Al Masjid Al Nawabi (Mosque of the Prophet) interior
2 Mada’in Saleh
3 Al Masjid Al Nawabi (Mosque of the Prophet)
A MODERN CITY Though it retains its religious signifi cance as the second most important Islamic pilgrimage destination after Makkah, Madinah today is much more than a religious site. As the provincial capital, it is one of the most important cities in Saudi Arabia from an economic and political point of view and is a modern multi-ethnic city of expatriate workers and Saudis. Initiatives such as the Madinah Knowledge Economic City, a US$7 billion (SAR26.2 billion) project to build knowledge-based industries and promote entrepreneurship, is expected to create 20,000 jobs and accommodation for 150,000 people while bringing in investment worth US$2.75 billion (SAR10 billion) a year into the region when completed in 2020. The city of Madinah is served
by the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport, which handles on average around 25 fl ights per day outside of the Hajj season, when the number usually triples. The city is well-connected to all domestic destinations in Saudi Arabia as well as to regional and international destinations through the 23 airlines that fl y in. There are also plans for
Madinah to be an important hub of the Haramain High Speed Railway which will link the city with Makkah and Jeddah on either side and further on to the Saudi national rail network. Trains will run at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour.
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