Qibla · La Vega
Qibla direction in Concepción de la Vega
To face the Kaaba in Concepción de la Vega, turn to 62.6° measured clockwise from true north, which is north-east (27.4° north of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 11,197 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Concepción de la Vega should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Concepción de la Vega as a needle at 62.6°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 63°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Concepción de la Vega
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 27.4° towards north: the result is the bearing of 62.6°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at east would leave you about 27° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Concepción de la Vega, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
This is a place where maps mislead badly: a straight line on a flat map from Concepción de la Vega to Mecca points to 88.8° (east), a full 26.1° away from the true Qibla of 62.6° (north-east). The map line keeps one compass heading and is 313 km longer than the great-circle route. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest way to Mecca from Concepción de la Vega first heads north-east, and that is the direction to face.
The value of 62.6° is the direction in which the shortest route from 19.2203° N, 70.5310° W sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Concepción de la Vega to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 11,197 km from Concepción de la Vega as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 11,029 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 13 h 40 min, although most pilgrims from Concepción de la Vega connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Concepción de la Vega run 7 hours behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Concepción de la Vega rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Concepción de la Vega
On 71 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Concepción de la Vega while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in June (30 days); for example, on 1 June 2027 it happens at 12:15 local time.
On 294 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in January (31 days), for instance on 1 January 2027 at 17:39.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | 17:39 |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 17:27 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 16:58 |
| 15 February 2027 | — | 16:26 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 15:51 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 15:13 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 14:27 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 13:50 |
| 1 May 2027 | — | 13:10 |
| 15 May 2027 | — | 12:41 |
| 1 June 2027 | 12:15 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 12:06 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 12:12 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 12:29 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | — | 12:59 |
| 15 August 2027 | — | 13:27 |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 14:01 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 14:29 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 15:02 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 15:32 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 16:10 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 16:41 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 17:14 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | 17:33 |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both happen at night in Concepción de la Vega (05:18 and 05:27 local time), so they cannot be used here. Instead, on 13 January 2027 at 17:29 and 28 November 2027 at 17:09 the sun is over the point opposite the Kaaba, and every vertical shadow in Concepción de la Vega points straight to Mecca.
Concepción de la Vega compared with other cities
The Qibla here is practically the same as in Santo Domingo (63.0°), and Mecca is 22 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, San Francisco de Macorís (30 km), prays towards 62.7°, a difference of 0.1°.
Across the 10 cities in the Dominican Republic on this site, the Qibla ranges from 62.5° in Puerto Plata to 63.6° in Punta Cana, a spread of 1.1°. The difference is small, yet each city should still use its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Dominican Republic.
Qibla in cities near Concepción de la Vega
- San Francisco de Macorís62.7° · 30 km
- Santiago de los Caballeros62.5° · 31 km
- Puerto Plata62.5° · 66 km
- San Cristobal63.0° · 100 km
- Santo Domingo63.0° · 107 km
- San Pedro de Macorís63.3° · 154 km
Qibla in Concepción de la Vega: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Concepción de la Vega?
It is 62.6° from true north, which is north-east: 27.4° north of east.
How far is Concepción de la Vega from Mecca?
11,197 km in a straight line over the globe, and 11,029 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Concepción de la Vega?
On 71 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Why is the Qibla in Concepción de la Vega not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 88.8°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Concepción de la Vega at 62.6°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 62.6° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.