Al Madinah Province in western Saudi Arabia combines Madinah, the city of the Prophet's Mosque, with AlUla's UNESCO-listed Hegra, the Red Sea port of Yanbu, and early Islamic sites at Badr, Khaybar and Uhud. This guide covers sights, hotels, food, access rules for non-Muslims and getting around.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Dress modestly: men wear loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; women wear a loose abaya or long modest clothing, and a headscarf is expected for Muslim women in Masjid an-Nabawi. Foreign women are not legally required to wear an abaya but must dress modestly.
Greet with "As-salamu alaykum"; shake hands only if the other person offers.
Remove shoes before entering mosques; shoe racks and shoe bags are provided at Masjid an-Nabawi.
Prayer times (adhan) set the rhythm of the day; many shops close for about 20-30 minutes at each of the five prayers.
Ask permission before photographing people, especially women; photography inside Masjid an-Nabawi is tolerated for general views but not of worshippers at the Rawdah.
Madinah is known for hospitality: Arabic coffee and Ajwa dates are offered to guests and pilgrims, and refusing the first offer politely is fine.
In AlUla and Yanbu, local life is more relaxed than in the holy city, but modest dress and the same prayer-time pauses still apply.
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Book the Rawdah Sharifah visit (Riyad ul-Jannah) through the Nusuk app; the permit can be booked about once every 365 days and the visit is limited to roughly 10 minutes.
- Arrive at the Rawdah gate about 15 minutes before the slot and be inside the mosque precinct about 30 minutes before; cancel in the app if the slot cannot be used.
- Follow the men's and women's visiting windows posted in Nusuk, which differ by gender and on Fridays.
- Carry water and ID; Zamzam is provided free in the mosque.
- Visit Quba Mosque after performing wudu at home or the hotel; praying two rakahs there is a widely followed tradition.
- Be patient and polite in crowds and assist elderly worshippers.
Don't
- Do not attempt to enter Masjid an-Nabawi, the Rawdah or the Haram boundary area if you are not a Muslim; checkpoints and guards enforce this. Non-Muslims may visit the rest of the city.
- Do not carry alcohol, drugs or pork products; they are banned throughout Saudi Arabia.
- Do not use drones near the mosque or the heritage sites; AlUla and Hegra also restrict drones.
- Do not visit the Rawdah without a valid Nusuk permit, and do not linger beyond the allotted time.
- Do not touch, climb or remove stones from AlUla and Hegra tombs or rock art; the sites are protected.
- Do not leave bags unattended in the mosque; security removes them.
Local customs
Traditions and practices you'll encounter.
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- "As-salamu alaykum" with the reply "Wa alaykum as-salam"; use the right hand for greetings and when passing food.
- Dining
- Eat with the right hand; share dishes; Arabic coffee and dates are offered on arrival and a small shake of the cup signals enough.
- Dress
- Men: thobe or modest long trousers and sleeved shirt; ihram only when in the state of ihram for Umrah. Women: loose abaya or long modest clothing; a headscarf is expected in the mosque. At AlUla outdoor sites light, loose long clothing, sun hats and sturdy shoes are practical.
- Gifts
- Ajwa dates, dried fruit, Arabic coffee, prayer beads, oud and Zamzam containers are common gifts from Madinah.
- Business
- Relationship-based; punctual meetings; invitations to tea or coffee first.
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added; small tips for porters and drivers.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
As-salamu alaykum
Hello (peace be upon you)
as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum
Shukran
Thank you
SHOO-kran
In sha Allah
God willing
in-sha-ALLAH
Ayna al-Masjid an-Nabawi?
Where is the Prophet's Mosque?
AY-na al-MAS-jid an-na-BA-wi
Kam?
How much?
kam
Tamr
Dates
tamr
Min fadlak (to a man) / Min fadlik (to a woman)
Please
min FAD-lak / min FAD-lik
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Al Madinah.
Main: Islam is the state religion. Madinah is the second holiest city in Islam and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad. Masjid an-Nabawi and the Haram precinct are for Muslims only; the rest of the city is open to non-Muslim visitors.
Sites: Masjid an-Nabawi with the Rawdah Sharifah and the Prophet's tomb, Quba Mosque, Masjid al-Qiblatayn, Mount Uhud and the martyrs' cemetery, Jannat al-Baqi cemetery (Muslims), Masjid al-Ghamama, and the Badr battlefield about 150 km south-west.
Holy Days: Ramadan (about 8 February 2027), Eid al-Fitr (about 9-10 March 2027), Hajj and Eid al-Adha (about 15-16 May 2027); dates depend on moon sighting. Fridays (Jumu'ah) fill the mosque and its plazas.
Conversations: Avoid debates about religion or politics; respect all Muslim traditions. In AlUla, the pre-Islamic Nabataean and Dadanite heritage is presented as archaeology and is a source of local pride.