Qibla · Al Hudaydah Governorate
Qibla direction in Al Hudaydah
To face the Kaaba in Al Hudaydah, turn to 336.3° measured clockwise from true north, which is north-west (23.7° west of north). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 807 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Al Hudaydah should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Al Hudaydah as a needle at 336.3°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 336°. 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 Al Hudaydah
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards north and move a further 23.7° towards west: the result is the bearing of 336.3°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at north would leave you about 24° 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 Al Hudaydah, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of one of the mosques of Al Hudaydah 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
On a flat (Mercator) map, the straight line from Al Hudaydah to Mecca points to 335.8°, only 0.5° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 336.3° bearing remains the exact one.
The value of 336.3° is the direction in which the shortest route from 14.7978° N, 42.9545° 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 Al Hudaydah to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 807 km from Al Hudaydah as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 1,131 km away. The distance is short enough that many pilgrims from Al Hudaydah travel to the Hijaz by road.
Clocks in Al Hudaydah 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 Al Hudaydah rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Al Hudaydah
On 104 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Al Hudaydah 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 May 2027 it happens at 12:06 local time.
On 261 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 January (31 days), for instance on 1 January 2027 at 11:05.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | 11:05 |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 11:14 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 11:26 |
| 15 February 2027 | — | 11:35 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 11:42 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 11:48 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 11:54 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 11:59 |
| 1 May 2027 | 12:06 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 12:12 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 12:20 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 12:25 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 12:28 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 12:27 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 12:21 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | — | 12:11 |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 11:57 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 11:43 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 11:27 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 11:14 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 11:01 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 10:55 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 10:53 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | 10:56 |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Al Hudaydah: at 12:18 and 12:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Al Hudaydah compared with other cities
Compared with Sanaa, 148 km away, the Qibla in Al Hudaydah is turned 10.0° further clockwise (336.3° against 326.3°), and Mecca is 10 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Sanaa (148 km), prays towards 326.3°, a difference of 10.0°.
Among the 7 cities in Yemen on this site, Al Hudaydah has the largest Qibla bearing; the smallest is 309.2° in Mukalla. Across the country the direction varies by 27.1°.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Yemen.
Qibla in cities near Al Hudaydah
Qibla in Al Hudaydah: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Al Hudaydah?
It is 336.3° from true north, which is north-west: 23.7° west of north.
How far is Al Hudaydah from Mecca?
807 km in a straight line over the globe, and 1,131 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Al Hudaydah?
On 104 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 Yemen?
No. It ranges from 309.2° to 336.3° across the country, so each city has its own bearing.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 336.3° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.