About the direction from Medina
Medina is north of Makkah at a similar longitude. Even though the two cities nearly share a meridian, use the computed angle rather than rounding the direction to due south.
How to face 176° in Medina
- Find true north using a phone compass that reports true heading or a map aligned to north.
- Turn clockwise from north by 176°. For reference, due east is 90°, south 180°, west 270°.
- If you use a magnetic compass, adjust for local magnetic declination; NOAA's declination calculator gives the current value for Medina.
The figure is the great-circle initial bearing, the standard approach described by Movable Type Scripts and the same idea behind Google's Qibla Finder. See how it works for the details.
Common questions
What is the Qibla direction in Medina?
From the approximate city center of Medina, the Qibla is 175.6° clockwise from true north, roughly south.
How far is Medina from the Kaaba?
About 346 km along the great circle, the shortest path over the Earth's surface.
Does the bearing change across Medina?
Yes. This figure uses the city center, not your exact position. The difference depends on your distance from the center and from Makkah; it can be noticeable in cities close to the Kaaba, especially Jeddah. Use the live finder for your own location.