Makkah Province is the most populous region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is traversed by the Hejaz Mountains, part of the larger Sarawat range that extends from Yemen to Jordan.

In the 7th century CE, central Arabia, previously known for its harsh climate, became the epicenter of a transformative event that continues to influence the world today. In an oasis named Makkah, located on a secondary caravan trade route, a new religion was born—Islam. Today, Islam has over 1.5 billion followers worldwide.

Natural Features of Makkah Province

Makkah Province boasts ten peaks above 2,500 meters, with the highest being Jebel Al-Hadab at 2,647 meters. Cities like Taif (1,800 meters), Al-Hada (1,900 meters), and Ash-Shafa (2,200 meters) are situated at high altitudes.

To the east of the Hejaz lies the central plateau of the Arabian Peninsula, known as the Nejd, which sits around 1,000 meters above sea level. This area is home to vast dune expanses like the ‘Uruq As-Subay’.

Makkah Province is also a volcanic region, with ancient and recent eruptions creating wide lava fields known as harra. The most famous natural feature is the Wa’abah Crater, a nearly two-kilometer-wide crater formed by volcanic activity.

On the western side, the landscape changes dramatically, featuring the crystal-clear waters and colorful coral reefs of the Red Sea, particularly visible in Jeddah.

History of Makkah Province

In 610 CE, a merchant from Makkah’s powerful Quraysh tribe named Muhammad began receiving divine revelations from Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Twelve years later, he and his companions were expelled from Makkah and found refuge in Madinah after an initial attempt in Taif. By 630 CE, Muhammad and his followers, having gained considerable power, marched into Makkah, which surrendered to the Muslim army. The city then became the center of the new religion, Islam, which would spread worldwide.

After the Prophet Muhammad’s death in 634 CE, Makkah remained the political center of Islam for only a few decades. In 656 CE, Ali, the fourth Caliph, chose Kufa (in present-day Iraq) as his capital. The Umayyad Caliphate later moved the capital to Damascus in Syria, and the Abbasid Caliphate to Baghdad in modern-day Iraq.

In 1517, when the Ottomans conquered the Hejaz, the Sharif of Makkah, Barakat bin Muhammad, acknowledged the supremacy of the Ottoman Caliph. In 1803, the city was integrated into the first Saudi state until 1813, when Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt successfully returned Makkah to Ottoman control.

In 1916, the Hashemites, a tribe originating from the same family as the Prophet Muhammad, launched a revolt against the Ottoman Empire in Makkah in June and took Ta’if in September. The province became part of the self-proclaimed Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz. However, just ten years later, the Ikhwans allied with the House of Saud retook the city, and in 1926, Abdulaziz Al-Saud was officially recognized as the new king of Hejaz.

Today, the King of Saudi Arabia holds the title of “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” referring to the responsibility of guarding and maintaining the two holiest mosques in Islam: Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in Madinah.

The mosque surrounding the Ka’aba, the Masjid Al-Haram, is the largest in the world and annually attracts millions of pilgrims from around the globe.

Places to Visit in Makkah Province

Makkah Province offers a variety of sites and events for different interests:

  • Makkah Al-Mukarramah: The holiest place in Islam.
  • Hajj: The largest pilgrimage in the world.
  • Jeddah: The gateway to Makkah.
  • Taif: A coveted highland known for its religious significance and fragrant roses.
  • Taif Rose Festival: Celebrating the iconic jewel of the Garden of Hejaz.
  • Wa’abah Crater: A grand testimony to the volcanic activity of the Hejaz.

Makkah Province, with its rich history and diverse natural landscapes, continues to be a place of immense significance and beauty.