Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and serves as the capital of Mecca Province. It lies 70 km inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea within a narrow valley situated 277 meters above sea level. The administrative center is governed by the Mecca Regional Municipality, with a mayor appointed by the Saudi government, while Prince Khalid Al-Faisal acts as the provincial governor.

The city is considered the birthplace of Islam and the Islamic prophet Muhammad, with Muslim tradition tracing its origins to Abraham and Ishmael building the Kaaba around 2000 BCE. Muhammad was born there in 570 CE and received his first revelation in the Cave of Hira in 610 CE. The city was conquered by Ibn Saud in 1925, ending previous regimes including Ottoman control, and has since undergone significant expansion and infrastructure development.

The Great Mosque, known as Masjid al-Haram, is home to the Kaaba, which serves as the direction of prayer for Muslims worldwide. The city features modern architecture such as The Clock Towers, the world's fourth-tallest building, alongside historical sites like the Ajyad Fortress, parts of which have been demolished for expansion. The surrounding area includes Jabal al-Nour and the ancient name Bakkah, referenced in the Quran.

Mecca is the holiest city in Islam and a major destination for the Hajj pilgrimage, an obligation for all Muslims observed in the month of Dhūl-Ḥijjah. Pilgrims more than triple the population during this period, drawing millions of visitors annually. The city's identity is deeply tied to these religious traditions, with non-Muslims prohibited from entering the sacred area, and it remains one of the most visited cities globally.

The metropolitan population was 2.4 million in 2022, making it the third most populated city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. Approximately 44.5% of residents are Saudi citizens, while 55.5% are Muslim foreigners from other countries. The city's economy and infrastructure are heavily oriented toward accommodating the vast number of pilgrims and international visitors who travel to this sacred site each year.