Mecca is the holiest city for Muslims, located in the western region of Saudi Arabia. It is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage performed by millions of Muslims each year.

At the heart of Mecca stands the Masjid al-Haram, home to the Holy Kaaba, the direction Muslims face in prayer wherever they are. The city undergoes massive, ongoing expansion to accommodate the growing numbers of pilgrims.