Qibla · Guelmim-Oued Noun
Qibla direction in Guelmim
To face the Kaaba in Guelmim, turn to 87.7° measured clockwise from true north, which is east (2.3° north of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 5,052 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Guelmim should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Guelmim as a needle at 87.7°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 88°. 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 Guelmim
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 2.3° towards north: the result is the bearing of 87.7°. The direction is close to due east, which makes it easy to remember.
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 Guelmim, 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
A straight line drawn on a flat (Mercator) map from Guelmim to Mecca points to 99.5° (east), 11.8° away from the correct 87.7°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 31 km longer than the true shortest route. The Qibla follows the great circle, the shortest path on the curved Earth, which is why the bearing differs.
The value of 87.7° is the direction in which the shortest route from 28.9870° N, 10.0574° 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 Guelmim to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 5,052 km from Guelmim as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 4,923 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 6 h 27 min, although most pilgrims from Guelmim connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Guelmim run 3 hours behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Guelmim rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Guelmim
On 167 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Guelmim while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in May (31 days); for example, on 1 April 2027 it happens at 06:58 local time.
On 189 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 May (31 days), for instance on 1 April 2027 at 17:51.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | — |
| 15 January 2027 | — | — |
| 1 February 2027 | — | — |
| 15 February 2027 | — | — |
| 1 March 2027 | — | — |
| 15 March 2027 | — | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 06:58 | 17:51 |
| 15 April 2027 | 07:33 | 17:08 |
| 1 May 2027 | 08:14 | 16:22 |
| 15 May 2027 | 08:49 | 15:45 |
| 1 June 2027 | 09:26 | 15:12 |
| 15 June 2027 | 09:45 | 14:58 |
| 1 July 2027 | 09:45 | 15:05 |
| 15 July 2027 | 09:28 | 15:27 |
| 1 August 2027 | 08:51 | 16:05 |
| 15 August 2027 | 08:13 | 16:39 |
| 1 September 2027 | 07:22 | 17:21 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 17:55 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | — |
| 15 October 2027 | — | — |
| 1 November 2027 | — | — |
| 15 November 2027 | — | — |
| 1 December 2027 | — | — |
| 15 December 2027 | — | — |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Guelmim: at 09:18 and 09:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Guelmim compared with other cities
Compared with Rabat, 637 km away, the Qibla in Guelmim is turned 6.9° further anticlockwise (87.7° against 94.6°), and Mecca is 295 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Agadir (165 km), prays towards 89.3°, a difference of 1.6°.
Among the 34 cities in Morocco on this site, Guelmim has the smallest Qibla bearing; the largest is 98.7° in Oujda. Across the country the direction varies by 11.0°.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Morocco.
Qibla in cities near Guelmim
Qibla in Guelmim: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Guelmim?
It is 87.7° from true north, which is east: 2.3° north of east.
How far is Guelmim from Mecca?
5,052 km in a straight line over the globe, and 4,923 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Guelmim?
On 167 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 Guelmim not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 99.5°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Guelmim at 87.7°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 87.7° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.