Qibla · Marrakesh-Safi
Qibla direction in Marrakesh
To face the Kaaba in Marrakesh, turn to 91.4° measured clockwise from true north, which is east (1.4° south of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 4,852 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Marrakesh should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Marrakesh as a needle at 91.4°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 91°. 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 Marrakesh
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 1.4° towards south: the result is the bearing of 91.4°. 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 Marrakesh, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Marrakesh 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 Marrakesh to Mecca points to 103.4° (east), 12.1° away from the correct 91.4°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is 30 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 91.4° is the direction in which the shortest route from 31.6342° N, 7.9999° 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 Marrakesh to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 4,852 km from Marrakesh as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 4,703 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 6 h 13 min, although most pilgrims from Marrakesh connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Marrakesh 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 Marrakesh rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Marrakesh
On 182 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Marrakesh 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 07:16 local time.
On 172 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 18:16.
| 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 | 07:16 | 18:16 |
| 15 April 2027 | 07:47 | 17:37 |
| 1 May 2027 | 08:23 | 16:56 |
| 15 May 2027 | 08:53 | 16:24 |
| 1 June 2027 | 09:25 | 15:56 |
| 15 June 2027 | 09:40 | 15:46 |
| 1 July 2027 | 09:42 | 15:52 |
| 15 July 2027 | 09:28 | 16:10 |
| 1 August 2027 | 08:56 | 16:42 |
| 15 August 2027 | 08:23 | 17:12 |
| 1 September 2027 | 07:38 | 17:49 |
| 15 September 2027 | 06:58 | 18:19 |
| 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 Marrakesh: at 09:18 and 09:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Marrakesh compared with other cities
Compared with Rabat, 286 km away, the Qibla in Marrakesh is turned 3.2° further anticlockwise (91.4° against 94.6°), and Mecca is 95 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, El Kelaa des Srarhna (72 km), prays towards 92.2°, a difference of 0.8°.
Across the 34 cities in Morocco on this site, the Qibla ranges from 87.7° in Guelmim to 98.7° in Oujda, a spread of 11.0°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Morocco.
Qibla in cities near Marrakesh
- El Kelaa des Srarhna92.2° · 72 km
- Safi91.4° · 138 km
- Settat93.1° · 156 km
- Al Fqih Ben Çalah93.1° · 157 km
- Khouribga93.3° · 173 km
- Beni Mellal93.1° · 174 km
Qibla in Marrakesh: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Marrakesh?
It is 91.4° from true north, which is east: 1.4° south of east.
How far is Marrakesh from Mecca?
4,852 km in a straight line over the globe, and 4,703 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Marrakesh?
On 182 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 Marrakesh not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 103.4°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Marrakesh at 91.4°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 91.4° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.