Qibla · Andalusia
Qibla direction in Algeciras
To face the Kaaba in Algeciras, turn to 97.9° measured clockwise from true north, which is east (7.9° south of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 4,658 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Algeciras should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Algeciras as a needle at 97.9°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 98°. 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 Algeciras
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 7.9° towards south: the result is the bearing of 97.9°. 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 Algeciras, 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 Algeciras to Mecca points to 110.4° (east), 12.6° away from the correct 97.9°. 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 97.9° is the direction in which the shortest route from 36.1333° N, 5.4505° 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 Algeciras to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 4,658 km from Algeciras as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 4,473 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 5 h 59 min, although most pilgrims from Algeciras connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Algeciras run 2 hours behind Mecca in winter and 1 hour behind Mecca in summer, because of daylight saving time. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Algeciras rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Algeciras
On 206 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Algeciras 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 15 March 2027 it happens at 08:12 local time.
On 143 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 15 April 2027 at 20:21.
| 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 | 08:12 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 09:43 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 10:08 | 20:21 |
| 1 May 2027 | 10:36 | 19:47 |
| 15 May 2027 | 10:59 | 19:22 |
| 1 June 2027 | 11:23 | 19:01 |
| 15 June 2027 | 11:35 | 18:55 |
| 1 July 2027 | 11:37 | 19:00 |
| 15 July 2027 | 11:27 | 19:14 |
| 1 August 2027 | 11:04 | 19:39 |
| 15 August 2027 | 10:37 | 20:02 |
| 1 September 2027 | 10:00 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 09:26 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 08:48 | — |
| 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 Algeciras: at 11:18 and 11:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Algeciras compared with other cities
Compared with Madrid, 500 km away, the Qibla in Algeciras is turned 6.1° further anticlockwise (97.9° against 104.0°), and Mecca is 60 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Marbella (66 km), prays towards 98.7°, a difference of 0.8°.
Across the 49 cities in Spain on this site, the Qibla ranges from 84.6° in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to 112.0° in Girona, a spread of 27.4°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Spain.
Qibla in cities near Algeciras
- Marbella98.7° · 66 km
- Jerez de la Frontera98.0° · 87 km
- Cadiz, Andalusia, Spain97.7° · 87 km
- Málaga99.3° · 113 km
- Seville98.8° · 147 km
- Huelva98.0° · 183 km
Qibla in Algeciras: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Algeciras?
It is 97.9° from true north, which is east: 7.9° south of east.
How far is Algeciras from Mecca?
4,658 km in a straight line over the globe, and 4,473 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Algeciras?
On 206 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 Algeciras not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 110.4°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Algeciras at 97.9°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 97.9° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.