Mount Arafat

Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal Arafat, is a granite hill and open plain located to the east of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that forms the principal site for the Day of Arafah during the Hajj pilgrimage. It is a central religious location in Islam with deep ritual significance.

Pilgrims gather on the plain and around the hill on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah to perform the standing (wuquf) rite, which is a fundamental element of the Hajj. The hill and surrounding area can accommodate very large populations of pilgrims during the Hajj period and are managed for crowd flow and services.

In Islamic tradition, the site is associated with sermons and events from early Islamic history and remains a focal point of contemporary pilgrimage practice.

Mount Arafat lies to the east of Mecca and is reached by pilgrims from the city and the surrounding plain; it is part of the wider Hajj route that includes Mina and Muzdalifah.

• Hajj significance: Standing at Arafat on the Day of Arafah (9th Dhu al-Hijjah) is a required rite for pilgrims performing Hajj; the site receives very large, timed crowds annually.

What to See #

• Jabal al-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy): A small granite hill on the plain of Arafat that is a focal point during the Hajj pilgrimage, traditionally known as the Mount of Mercy where pilgrims gather to stand in prayer.
• Plain of Arafat: The surrounding Arafat plain that accommodates millions of pilgrims for the key ritual of standing (wuquf) on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah during the Hajj.