Before you go

Visiting the Two Holy Mosques

Rawdah permits and hours, free luggage storage, carts and fees, Tahallul, childcare and service centres in Makkah and Madinah — compiled from official sources.

Source: alharamain.gov.sa ↗

Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim at English Wikipedia and edited by MIckStephenson · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A practical guide to the free and paid services inside Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah — the Rawdah, luggage storage, carts and wheelchairs, Tahallul, childcare and more. It is compiled from the official portal of the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques (alharamain.gov.sa) and official Saudi announcements; every section lists its source below.

Please check before you go. Hours, gates and fees change, especially in Ramadan and during Hajj. Confirm on the Nusuk app or alharamain.gov.sa before relying on a detail. Last checked: 30 September 2026.

Guide by topic

16 short pages — open the one you need, or read them in order.

Who runs the services

The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques (Al-Haramain) manages both mosques — cleaning, crowd flow, guidance, carts, luggage…

Inside the Grand Mosque (Makkah)

Masjid al-Haram is vast — the Authority counts 243 gates, 5 of them main gates, plus 224 escalators and 2,964 restrooms. Every gate carries a number…

The Noble Rawdah (Madinah)

The Rawdah is the area between the house and the minbar of the Prophet ﷺ in Masjid an-Nabawi. Because space is limited, prayer there is by permit…

The Prophet's Minbar (Madinah)

The minbar (pulpit) of Masjid an-Nabawi stands at the edge of the Noble Rawdah — the Prophet ﷺ described the space between his house and his minbar…

The Prophet's Chamber and the Green Dome (Madinah)

The Prophet's Chamber (al-Hujrah an-Nabawiyyah) is the house where the Prophet ﷺ lived with Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) throughout his…

The famous pillars of the Prophet's Mosque (Madinah)

In the old southern part of Masjid an-Nabawi, in and around the Rawdah, some pillars carry names that recall moments from the life of the Prophet ﷺ…

Luggage storage (Makkah)

Free luggage storage lets you perform Umrah without carrying your bags.

Carts and wheelchairs (Makkah)

For older visitors and anyone who cannot walk Tawaf and Sa'i.

Elderly and people with disabilities (Makkah)

The Authority sets aside gates, lifts, prayer areas and transport so older visitors and people with disabilities can perform Umrah with less strain.

Tahallul — ritual haircut (Makkah)

After Sa'i, men shave or shorten their hair and women trim a fingertip's length to leave ihram. The Authority offers this service inside the Grand…

Children's care centres

Childcare lets parents perform Tawaf, Sa'i or prayer with peace of mind.

Service centres in Madinah

Service centres in the courtyards of Masjid an-Nabawi, on the north and south sides, welcome visitors as they arrive.

Wudu, prayer and facilities

Masjid al-Haram: wudu areas on the roof of the Second Saudi Expansion (by escalator and lift) and on the roofs of al-Arqam, al-Qishashiyah and…

Museums and visits in Makkah

King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswah of the Holy Ka'bah in Umm al-Joud, where the Ka'bah's cover is woven and embroidered by Saudi craftsmen. Visits…

Ramadan services

I'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan needs a permit, applied for through the Authority's e-service.

Tips for your visit

Download Nusuk before you fly; you need it for your Umrah permit and the Rawdah.

General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques — official portal (e-services: nursery, interactive map, I'tikaf, iftar tables, reports)
General Authority — Frequently asked questions (carts and fees, luggage, childcare, wudu areas, library, Kiswah visits)
General Authority — The Noble Rawdah and The Prophet's Minbar
General Authority — Visits portal
Saudi Press Agency — Rawdah visiting hours and permits (Dec 2025) and Hajj-season Rawdah hours (May 2026)
Saudi Press Agency — Free luggage storage; Pilgrim Experience Program — luggage storage centres
Saudi Press Agency — Electric and manual carts
Saudi Press Agency — Free Tahallul service and Hajj-season Tahallul points
Saudi Press Agency — Children's nursery centres at the Grand Mosque
Saudi Press Agency — Service centres at the Prophet's Mosque
General Authority — The Grand Mosque (escalators, restrooms, library) and main gates and access; Sabq — 243 gates, 5 main; gate names as used in pilgrim guides: Pilgrim, KSA Expats
Saudi Press Agency — Field guidance and translation, Manarat Al-Haramain, Tanaqol and Ramadan services
Saudi Press Agency — Services for persons with disabilities and for the elderly; Saudi Gazette — accessible prayer areas; Arab News — elderly and disabled pilgrims
General Authority — The well-known pillars of the Prophet's Mosque
The Prophet's Chamber and the Green Dome — Visit Madinah, Saudi Gazette, Arab News, Saudipedia, Wikipedia; official page: General Authority
Ministry of Hajj and Umrah — FAQ (Rawdah permits, Salam)

darbiya is not affiliated with the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques. This page summarises public information in our own words to help you plan; the official sources above always take precedence.

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