Masjid an-Nabawi — the Prophet’s Mosque, the second-holiest site in Islam — is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free to enter, in the center of Madinah. The Rawdah (the privileged area between the Prophet’s minbar and his chamber) is the one thing that needs planning: entry is by free Nusuk permit only, booked in the app, with the QR activating 2 hours before your slot. Everything else — the 42 gates, the open carpeted halls, the umbrella-covered courtyards — simply receives you whenever you arrive.
First 5 things to know
- Open 24 hours, no fee, no ticket. Every day of the year — there is no closing time and no admission charge.
- The Rawdah needs a free Nusuk permit. Booked in the Nusuk app; QR activates 2 hours before your slot. No permit, no entry — it’s the only way in (since 2023).
- 42 numbered gates ring the mosque. Match yours to your hotel side, or arrive at Bab as-Salam (Gate 1) for the traditional gate.
- Muslims only inside. The mosque and its immediate Haram courtyards are reserved for Muslim worship, clearly marked. Non-Muslims can view the exterior, minarets and Green Dome from outside the boundary.
- Rawdah windows are seasonal. Current men/women windows shift in Ramadan and across the year — the Nusuk permit, not any guide, is the final word.
What is Masjid an-Nabawi?
Masjid an-Nabawi is the Prophet’s Mosque in central Madinah — the second-holiest site in Islam, built around the Prophet’s (pbuh) mosque and expanded over centuries into today’s complex. The Green Dome rises over the Prophet’s blessed chamber. At capacity, the mosque and its courtyards and expansion zones cover roughly 1.6 million square metres. Bab as-Salam (Gate 1) is the traditional arrival gate — the classic place for a visitor’s first greeting of the Prophet.
What are the opening hours? Is it free?
Open 24 hours, every day of the year. No admission fee. No ticket. (Folded: masjid nabawi visiting hours.)
Prayer times themselves move with the solar cycle — as a general window: Fajr ~5:00–5:30, Dhuhr ~12:15–12:30, Asr ~3:30–3:45, Maghrib at sunset, Isha roughly 1.5 hours after sunset. Always check the day’s exact times on Nusuk or alharamain.gov.sa — they are the final word. Friday prayers draw the largest crowds of the week.
Which gate should you use?
The mosque has 42 numbered gates, and the smart move is to match your gate to your side of town:
- Southern gates 1–5 (Qibla side) — closest to the Rawdah and the Prophet’s grave; your main destination for prayer visits.
- Western gates 6–11 — nearest many central hotels.
- Eastern gates 28–35 — near Al-Baqi (the cemetery, adjacent to the Haram boundary); gates 28–30 (Ali Ibn Talib) are among the largest.
- Northern gates 36–42 — the newest expansion, usually the least congested.
- Women’s designated gates 12–14 (western) and 23–30 (eastern).
Advice: pick the gate closest to your hotel and pre-book transport to that gate (see below). For a first visit, Bab as-Salam (Gate 1) is the traditional arrival.
What is the Rawdah — and do you need a permit?
The Rawdah (ar-Rawdah ash-Sharifah, “Riyadh ul-Jannah”) is the area between the Prophet’s minbar and his blessed chamber — literally inside the Prophet’s Mosque — distinguished by green carpet against the red elsewhere. Praying two rak’ah here is a major spiritual privilege for Muslims (hadith-sourced, and optional — it is not a rite of Hajj or Umrah).
Yes, you need a permit since 2023. It is free, booked through the Nusuk app, and there is no spontaneous entry — the permit is the only way in. The QR code in the app activates 2 hours before your slot, and you show it at the entrance for your window.
One honest note: permits are limited and book fast — book the moment your travel dates are fixed. Don’t plan to walk up; plan the permit first, then the day around it.
What are the Rawdah visiting windows?
Windows shift seasonally and are heavily reworked in Ramadan — the Nusuk permit, not any guide, is the final word. The windows below are those announced for the Hajj season 2026 by the General Authority (via SPA); re-verify the current schedule on Nusuk before travel.
- Men (daily): 2:00 AM–Fajr; 11:20 AM–Isha.
- Women (daily): after Fajr–11:00 AM; after Isha–2:00 AM.
- Friday (higher crowds): men 2:00 AM–Fajr + 9:00 AM–Isha; women after Fajr–9:00 AM (post-Isha unchanged).
What it feels like for women: a dedicated women-only Nusuk permit; a staged holding process before entry that can take around an hour; time inside roughly 10–15 minutes. Gate 25 is the most frequently reported women’s entry — agree a meeting point with your group or driver before your slot.
What should you know before you go? Etiquette & dress
- Dress modestly: women — headscarf + loose, opaque robe/abaya; men — long trousers, no sleeveless tops.
- Shoes off on the carpeted areas.
- Low voice inside the halls.
- No photography of worshippers, no flash — and respect the “Muslims only” zone boundaries.
- Accessibility: a wheelchair/scooter ecosystem operates within the mosque, with designated women’s sections.
[NEEDS VERIFICATION — exact routing at build time via alharamain.gov.sa / Nusuk.]
How do you get to Masjid an-Nabawi?
The mosque is in the center of the city — drop-off is at the surrounding gate nearest your hotel. Modes and durations below; fares live on the money pages (blogs never quote them).
- From your hotel: most central hotels are inside the gate ring or a short ride away. Recommended: a pre-booked sedan with a round-trip waiting driver for your prayer window — the driver drops you at your gate, waits while you pray, and brings you back. Book your gate transfer.
- From Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED): ~15 km / ~25–30 minutes to the mosque area. Airport → city transfer.
- From the Haramain High-Speed Railway station: station → Haram/hotel transfers by pre-booked taxi. Station transfer route.
Pair the mosque visit with the full pilgrimage-day picture on the Madinah ziyarat day loop.
Can non-Muslims visit the Prophet’s Mosque?
Madinah is open to non-Muslim visitors — since roughly 2023 — but the Prophet’s Mosque and its immediate Haram zone are reserved for Muslim worship. The boundary is clearly marked with signs (Arabic and English) and security. If you are not Muslim, you can still: stay in central Madinah hotels, explore the old quarters and markets around the mosque, and view the mosque’s exterior, minarets and the Green Dome from outside the boundary at sunset or sunrise — a genuinely beautiful sight. [VERIFY against official phrasing at build — nusuk.sa / visitsaudi (content-critical flag, research A5.1); never overstate either way.]
FAQs: Masjid an-Nabawi
Is Masjid an-Nabawi open 24 hours? Yes — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no admission fee or ticket.
Which gate should I use? Match your gate to your hotel side: Southern 1–5 (closest to the Rawdah), Western 6–11 (many hotels), Eastern 28–35 (near Al-Baqi), Northern 36–42 (newest, least congested), and women’s gates 12–14 (W) and 23–30 (E). Bab as-Salam (Gate 1) is the traditional first-visit gate.
How do I get a Rawdah permit? Book a free permit in the Nusuk app — the QR activates 2 hours before your slot, and the permit is the only way in. Permits are limited and book fast.
What are the Rawdah visiting windows? Announced for Hajj 2026 — men daily 2:00 AM–Fajr + 11:20 AM–Isha; women after Fajr–11:00 AM + after Isha–2:00 AM; Friday variants push windows earlier. They shift seasonally — the Nusuk permit is the final word.
Can non-Muslims visit the Prophet’s Mosque? The mosque and its immediate Haram courtyards are reserved for Muslim worship. Madinah itself is open to all — the exterior, minarets and Green Dome can be viewed from outside the marked boundary. [VERIFY — official phrasing at build.]
How do I get to Masjid an-Nabawi? Central city — taxi/ride-hailing drop-off at your preferred gate; ~15 km / ~25–30 min from MED airport; transfers from the Haramain station.
Do I need a Nusuk permit to just visit the mosque (not the Rawdah)? No — the mosque is open to all and free to enter. The free Nusuk permit applies only to the Rawdah area.
- Islam’s oldest mosque, 3 km away: Masjid Quba Guide
- Full ziyarat day loop: Places to Visit in Madinah & Ziyarat
- When to travel: Madinah Weather & Best Time
- Book your Prophet’s Mosque visit: Madinah taxi service · Airport → city · Haramain station route
Sources: alharamain.gov.sa (A — hours, prayer times, gate maps), nusuk.sa (A — Rawdah permit), official SPA window announcement N2597065 via tafaol.sa (A, 2026-05-24; corroborated B arynews, umrah.guide, propakistani), houseofsaud.com (B, 2026-04-03), umrah.guide (B, 2026-07-02). Facts logged in RESEARCH_madinah-visitor-essentials_2026-09-20.md A1 with verification ledger A6. MED→Nabawi / Haramain transfer facts reused from research 2026-09-07 / 2026-09-14.