Qibla · Eastern Province
Qibla direction in Hofuf
To face the Kaaba in Hofuf, turn to 248.2° measured clockwise from true north, which is west (21.8° south of west). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 1,088 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Hofuf should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Hofuf as a needle at 248.2°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 248°. 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 Hofuf
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards west and move a further 21.8° towards south: the result is the bearing of 248.2°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at west would leave you about 22° 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 Hofuf, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Hofuf 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 Hofuf to Mecca points to 246.2° (south-west), 2.0° away from the correct 248.2°. That map line is a rhumb line: it keeps the same compass heading all the way, but it is not 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 248.2° is the direction in which the shortest route from 25.3647° N, 49.5876° E 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 Hofuf to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 1,088 km from Hofuf as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 1,011 km away. The distance is short enough that many pilgrims from Hofuf travel to the Hijaz by road.
Clocks in Hofuf run the same time as Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Hofuf rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Hofuf
On 284 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Hofuf while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in March (31 days); for example, on 1 February 2027 it happens at 16:56 local time.
On 50 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 June (30 days), for instance on 1 June 2027 at 05:22.
| 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 | 16:56 | — |
| 15 February 2027 | 16:25 | — |
| 1 March 2027 | 15:49 | — |
| 15 March 2027 | 15:12 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 14:25 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 13:48 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 13:09 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 12:39 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 12:13 | 05:22 |
| 15 June 2027 | 12:04 | 05:37 |
| 1 July 2027 | 12:09 | 05:39 |
| 15 July 2027 | 12:26 | 05:26 |
| 1 August 2027 | 12:56 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 13:23 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | 13:58 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 14:26 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 14:59 | — |
| 15 October 2027 | 15:29 | — |
| 1 November 2027 | 16:07 | — |
| 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 Hofuf: at 12:18 and 12:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Hofuf compared with other cities
Compared with Riyadh, 298 km away, the Qibla in Hofuf is turned 4.1° further clockwise (248.2° against 244.2°), and Mecca is 295 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Khobar (119 km), prays towards 245.1°, a difference of 3.2°.
Across the 27 cities in Saudi Arabia on this site, the Qibla ranges from 96.4° in Jeddah to 330.8° in Jizan, a spread of 234.5°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Saudi Arabia.
Qibla in cities near Hofuf
Qibla in Hofuf: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Hofuf?
It is 248.2° from true north, which is west: 21.8° south of west.
How far is Hofuf from Mecca?
1,088 km in a straight line over the globe, and 1,011 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Hofuf?
On 284 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.
Is the Qibla the same everywhere in Saudi Arabia?
No. It ranges from 96.4° to 330.8° across the country, so each city has its own bearing.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 248.2° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.