Car & Van Hire - Makkah

Makkah is Islam's holiest city, notable for being the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad and for being the destination of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. According to Islamic teachings, Muslims are expected to complete the Hajj pilgrimage at least once during their lifetime, assuming they are physically and financially capable of embarking on the journey. It is important to note that the city of Makkah is off-limits to non-Muslims.

The most significant attraction within Makkah is the Al-Masjid Al-Haram Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque. It is the largest mosque in the world and is the main site for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. In modern times, approximately five million Muslims complete the Hajj pilgrimage every year. Notably, the mosque contains the Kaaba, a stone building at its centre, which serves as the direction of prayer for Muslims around the world.

The Makkah Gate, which is often referred to as the Qur'an Gate, serves as both a gateway to the city and a monument. It marks the beginning of the haram or 'forbidden' area, where non-Muslims are prohibited from entering. The gate was built in 1979 and is one of Makkah's most instantly recognisable features.

Close to the city of Makkah is another of Islam's most significant sites, the Jabal al-Nour mountain, which contains the cave of Hira, where the prophet Muhammad is said to have received his first revelation. It is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, and the hike up to the cave itself will usually take at least an hour.

Visitors may also be interested in the Abraj Al Bait, or Clock Towers, which includes the Makkah Clock Royal Tower - one of the tallest buildings in the world. For sports fans, King Abdul Aziz Stadium is a 38,000-capacity stadium and the largest sports venue in the city. It is primarily used for football games, serving as the home ground for Al Wehda FC.

In terms of food culture, Makkah largely follows the rest of Saudi Arabia, with common foods including chicken, lamb, rice, potatoes and seafood. The AlBaik fast food chain is popular within Makkah itself. The city contains numerous branches, and it is mainly known for selling Halal fried chicken, although other foods are also on the menu, including fish, shrimp and fries. Only Halal foods are allowed to be sold in Makkah, and pork is forbidden.

As with other parts of Saudi Arabia, drivers must be at least 18, but the minimum age for car hire in Makkah is 21. Driver's licences from many locations are valid in Saudi Arabia, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. An international driving permit is valid for up to one year. Visitors must have their driver's licence and passport on them at all times when driving in Saudi Arabia.

Vehicles drive on the right side of the road. Seatbelts are mandatory for drivers and passengers, and mobile phones can only be used hands-free. Speed limits are enforced via police on the roads and through the use of speed cameras. Some speed signs may be written in Arabic only, so you should learn Arabic numerals before travelling. Drivers are asked to respect call to prayer times, so you should avoid playing music in your vehicle during these periods.

Saudi Arabia has a zero-tolerance approach to both alcohol and recreational drugs. Visitors are not permitted to possess or consume these substances within the country. Punishment for driving under the influence of these banned substances will be severe and is likely to result in a long prison sentence, as well as additional financial penalties.

Children under the age of 10 should be seated in an appropriate child seat or booster seat. Motorists must park in designated areas, and fines will be issued for vehicles parked outside of these locations. You will need to pay to use most car parks in Makkah and the surrounding areas, including the nearby city of Jeddah.

Most visitors use the city of Jeddah, to the west, as a gateway to Makkah and the two cities are connected by Highway 40, which can be extremely busy. It is on this route that motorists will pass through the Makkah Gate. This same highway also connects Makkah to Saudi Arabia's capital city, Riyadh, which lies around 865km to the northeast. Highway 15, meanwhile, connects Makkah to the holy city of Medina, which is located around 400km to the north.

Non-Muslims are not permitted to drive into the city of Makkah. Attempting to enter as a non-Muslim is likely to result in a fine or even harsher punishment. A non-Muslim found to be present within the city will usually be deported.