ThePlace: Al-Jum’ah Mosque in Madinah, where prophet performed the first Friday prayer after migration from Makkah

Al-Jum’ah Mosque in Madinah. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 18 July 2022
Follow

ThePlace: Al-Jum’ah Mosque in Madinah, where prophet performed the first Friday prayer after migration from Makkah

  • As a site of historical significance with a prominent role in Islamic history, today it sees a number of visitors who come to perform their prayers

Madinah is home to a number of mosques and historic Islamic sites, a veritable tourist destination where visitors can explore places from Prophet Muhammad’s life.

Al-Jum’ah Mosque is one such place, linked to the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah.

The mosque is the site where the prophet stopped in the Wadi Ranuna region and performed the Jum’ah, or Friday, prayer.

Al-Jum’ah Mosque holds different names, such as Al-Wadi Mosque and Atikah Mosque.

As a site of historical significance with a prominent role in Islamic history, today it sees a number of visitors who come to perform their prayers.

It is situated southwest of Madinah, near Wadi Ranuna, 900 meters north of the Quba Mosque and 6 kilometers from the Prophet’s Mosque.

It was built with rocks initially then demolished and renovated several times. Before the last expansion, the mosque was built over a small mound, with one dome made of red bricks. Then it was rebuilt and expanded to accommodate 650 pilgrims.

The mosque also includes a minaret, a main dome in the middle of a praying area and four small domes on its sides.


Al-Baha’s Nawan Dunes draws nature lovers, adventure seekers

Al-Baha’s Nawan Dunes, a winter destination promising adventure and nature, is offering visitors distinctive tourism experience.
Updated 08 January 2026
Follow

Al-Baha’s Nawan Dunes draws nature lovers, adventure seekers

  • Winter destination witnesses growing influx of visitors

RIYADH: Al-Baha’s Nawan Dunes, a winter destination promising adventure and nature, is offering visitors a distinctive tourism experience that blends tranquility with beauty.

The site, in Al-Makhwah Governorate, is among the most prominent natural attractions in the Al-Baha region and is distinguished by unique sand formations that stretch across vast areas, offering visitors a distinctive tourism experience.

The dunes are witnessing a growing influx of visitors, outdoor enthusiasts, and photography lovers, due to the region’s mild winter weather, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The rolling golden sands provide an ideal destination for camping enthusiasts, desert adventures, and various outdoor recreational activities, particularly during twilight and sunset when the landscape takes on a striking aesthetic appeal.

The Nawan Dunes is now a breathtaking canvas of natural beauty. Recent rainfall has allowed wild plants to flourish spectacularly and this creates a stunning spectacle for all nature lovers.

As part of efforts to diversify tourism experiences, the Nawan Dunes has also hosted paragliding, attracting adventure seekers and aerial sports enthusiasts.

This has offered visitors a unique opportunity to view the desert landscape from the air and enjoy panoramic views of the dunes and surrounding nature, all within a well-organized framework that prioritizes safety and enhances the site’s appeal.

These events and initiatives form part of Al-Baha's winter program, which aims to diversify tourism options, invest in natural assets, and strengthen the area’s position as an attractive winter tourism destination in the Kingdom.

Fahd Muftah Al-Zahrani, the director general at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Al-Baha, said that two contracts had been signed to further ecotourism in the region.