Mount Arafat (Jabal Arafat), with its small granite hill Jabal al-Rahmah, the Mount of Mercy, rises from the plain of Arafat about 20 km southeast of Makkah. Standing at Arafat (Wuquf) on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the central rite of Hajj; the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that Hajj is Arafah.
Arafat lies just outside the Haram boundary but within the area around Makkah that non-Muslims may not enter.
Plan your visit to Mount Arafat
- Entry: free; for Muslims only
- Day of Arafah: 9 Dhul Hijjah, Hajj permit required
- Ziyarah visit: about 1 to 2 hours
History of Mount Arafat
During his Farewell Pilgrimage in 632 CE (10 AH), the Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered his Farewell Sermon at Arafat, stressing the sanctity of life and property, the rights of women and the equality of believers. Masjid Namirah, on the western edge of the plain, stands near where the sermon is traditionally placed.
Some traditions also associate Arafat with the reunion of Adam and Hawwa (Eve). Jabal al-Rahmah is about 70 metres high and topped by a white pillar marking the place.
Attractions at Mount Arafat
- The plain of Arafat: the wide valley where pilgrims spend the Day of Arafah in prayer and supplication; its boundaries are marked by signs, and pilgrims must be within them.
- Jabal al-Rahmah: the Mount of Mercy, with the white pillar on its summit.
- Masjid Namirah: the large mosque where the Arafah sermon is delivered and Dhuhr and Asr are prayed combined on the Day of Arafah.
Things to Do at Mount Arafat
- Wuquf on the Day of Arafah: pilgrims stay in Arafat from after midday until sunset on 9 Dhul Hijjah, then move to Muzdalifah.
- Make supplication: the day is devoted to prayer, dhikr and seeking forgiveness; anywhere within the boundaries of Arafat is valid.
- Visiting outside Hajj: Muslims staying in Makkah often visit Arafat as part of a ziyarah of the holy sites. Climbing Jabal al-Rahmah is not a rite of Hajj, and touching or writing on the pillar is discouraged by scholars.
Mount Arafat – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Who may visit: Muslims only; non-Muslims may not enter the Makkah area.
- Hajj: being in Arafat on the Day of Arafah requires a Hajj permit through official channels (Nusuk Hajj for many countries, or your country’s Hajj mission). Security checkpoints are strict in the Hajj season.
- Outside Hajj: the area is open, with no entry fee. There are no fixed opening hours, but it is very hot by day for most of the year, so early morning is best.
How Long to Spend at Mount Arafat
- Hajj: from after midday until sunset on 9 Dhul Hijjah; many pilgrims arrive the night before or early that morning.
- Ziyarah visit: about 1 to 2 hours, often combined with Mina and Muzdalifah.
How to Get There
- During Hajj: pilgrims travel with their Hajj service provider by bus, or on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah metro line, which links Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat and runs only during the Hajj season. Many pilgrims also walk the marked pedestrian routes.
- Outside Hajj: by taxi, ride-hailing app or private car from central Makkah, about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Arriving at Jeddah airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer to your hotel in Makkah, or take the Haramain train.
Eateries Nearby Mount Arafat
Outside the Hajj season there are few facilities at Arafat, so bring water. During Hajj, meals are provided in the camps by your Hajj service company. For restaurants, return to central Makkah around Masjid al-Haram.
Other Attractions Nearby Mount Arafat
- Muzdalifah: where pilgrims spend the night after Arafat.
- Mina: the tent city of the Hajj and site of the Jamarat.
- Masjid al-Haram: the Grand Mosque in central Makkah.
- Jabal al-Nour: the mountain of the Cave of Hira, on the way back into the city.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Makkah: hotels around the Haram and in Ajyad are walkable to the mosque; prices peak in Ramadan and the Hajj season.
- Get a Saudi Arabia eSIM on Klook before you land, for maps, the Nusuk app and ride-hailing apps.
Mount Arafat and its plain are where pilgrims stand in prayer on the Day of Arafah, the essential rite of Hajj, and where the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave his Farewell Sermon. Outside Hajj, Muslims in Makkah can visit as part of a ziyarah of the holy sites.
Follow the route of the Hajj with our guides to Muzdalifah and Mina.
