Qibla direction finder
Find the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah from wherever you are, in degrees from true north.
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Tap the button to find the Qibla from where you are. On phones, hold the device flat for the live compass.
Qibla direction from popular cities
| City | Qibla | Distance to Makkah |
|---|---|---|
| London, United Kingdom | 118.99° ESE | 4,794 km |
| Birmingham, United Kingdom | 117.94° ESE | 4,952 km |
| Manchester, United Kingdom | 118.46° ESE | 5,025 km |
| New York City, New York | 58.48° ENE | 10,306 km |
| Chicago, Illinois | 48.66° NE | 11,149 km |
| Houston, Texas | 45.49° NE | 12,574 km |
| Toronto, Canada | 54.57° NE | 10,493 km |
| Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 258.75° W | 1,632 km |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 244.15° WSW | 793 km |
| Makkah, Saudi Arabia | 172.64° S | 0 km |
| Karachi, Pakistan | 267.75° W | 2,801 km |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 292.54° WNW | 6,974 km |
| Sydney, Australia | 277.5° W | 13,236 km |
| Doha, Qatar | 252.62° WSW | 1,269 km |
| Kuwait City, Kuwait | 224.64° SW | 1,203 km |
| Cairo, Egypt | 136.25° SE | 1,288 km |
How the Qibla direction is calculated
The Qibla is the direction of the shortest path over the Earth's surface (the great circle) from your location to the Kaaba (21.4225° N, 39.8262° E). That is why the Qibla from North America points north-east rather than south-east.
Finding the Qibla without a phone
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba — around May 27–28 at about 12:18 PM and July 15–16 at about 12:27 PM Makkah time. At those moments, wherever the sun is visible, shadows point directly away from the Qibla.
A magnetic compass points to magnetic north, which differs from true north by your local magnetic declination; phone compasses usually correct for this automatically when location access is enabled. Keep the phone away from metal objects and calibrate it by moving it in a figure-eight.
Frequently asked questions
Which direction is the Qibla?
The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah. From the UK it is roughly south-east (about 119° from London), from North America roughly north-east (about 58° from New York) and from Pakistan and India roughly west.
Is the Qibla direction from the US north-east?
Yes. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest path from North America to Makkah runs north-east, across the Atlantic and Europe.
Why does my phone compass show a different direction?
Phone compasses are affected by nearby metal and electronics. Calibrate the compass, hold the phone flat and away from metal, and check it against the bearing shown for your city.