Qibla direction in Aberdeen

How to face the Qibla in Aberdeen

Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 31.7° towards south: the result is the bearing of 121.7°. Because the angle sits far from the cardinal points, a rough guess such as “east” would be off by more than 30°, which is why a measured bearing matters in Aberdeen.

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 Aberdeen, 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 Aberdeen to Mecca points to 138.9° (south-east), a full 17.2° away from the true Qibla of 121.7° (south-east). The map line keeps one compass heading and is 51 km longer than the great-circle route. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest way to Mecca from Aberdeen first heads south-east, and that is the direction to face.

The value of 121.7° is the direction in which the shortest route from 57.1437° N, 2.0981° 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 Aberdeen to Mecca and Medina

Mecca is 5,221 km from Aberdeen as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 4,918 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 6 h 39 min, although most pilgrims from Aberdeen connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.

Clocks in Aberdeen run 3 hours behind Mecca in winter and 2 hours 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 Aberdeen rather than those of Mecca.

Finding the Qibla with the sun in Aberdeen

On 259 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Aberdeen 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 15 February 2027 it happens at 08:21 local time.

On 71 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 20:43.

Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Aberdeen: at 10:18 and 10:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.

Aberdeen compared with other cities

Compared with London, England, United Kingdom, 639 km away, the Qibla in Aberdeen is turned 2.7° further clockwise (121.7° against 119.0°), and Mecca is 427 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Dundee (92 km), prays towards 120.2°, a difference of 1.5°.

Among the 75 cities in the United Kingdom on this site, Aberdeen has the largest Qibla bearing; the smallest is 113.7° in Plymouth, England, United Kingdom. Across the country the direction varies by 8.0°.

See all cities on the Qibla page for United Kingdom.

Qibla in cities near Aberdeen

• Dundee120.2° · 92 km
• Edinburgh119.5° · 149 km
• Glasgow118.3° · 194 km
• Newcastle upon Tyne120.4° · 243 km
• Sunderland120.6° · 253 km
• Middlesbrough120.5° · 291 km