livinginmakkah.com

Tag: al-awali

  • Best Neighborhoods in Makkah for Families: Five Districts Compared

    Best Neighborhoods in Makkah for Families: Five Districts Compared

    There is no single best district for every family. A household with a toddler and a car wants something different from one with teenagers at secondary school and a father who prays every Fajr at the Haram.

    What parents usually ask about is the same short list: schools, outdoor space, a hospital not too far away, and how bad the busy seasons will be at the front door. We compared five residential districts on exactly those points, using OpenStreetMap for distances and facilities.

    Quick answer

    Short answer: For space and schools, Al-Awali (about 12 km from the Haram) stands out. Al-Shawqiyah (about 5 km) and Batha Quraish (about 7 km) suit families wanting established areas with walkways. Al-Nasim (about 8 km) has a hospital inside the district. Al-Aziziyah (about 3 km) is closest but busiest in Hajj season.

    How we compared them

    Distances are straight lines from the centre of each district’s OpenStreetMap boundary to Al-Masjid Al-Haram (OSM), measured on 12 October 2026. Driving distance is longer. Facilities are those mapped inside each boundary on OSM, which is community-edited, so confirm anything important in person.

    We have not quoted rents. They change with the building and the season, and invented averages do families no favours.

    DistrictDistance to HaramDirectionMapped family features
    Al-Awaliabout 12 kmSouth-eastSeveral schools, UQU girls’ campus, malls
    Al-Nasimabout 8 kmSouth-eastAl-Noor Hospital, a mall
    Batha Quraishabout 7 kmSouthBatha Quraish Walkway
    Al-Shawqiyahabout 5 kmSouth-westPark and walkway, supermarket, mall
    Al-Aziziyahabout 3 kmEast, towards MinaSupermarkets, clinics, a secondary school
    Five family districts at a glance

    Al-Awali: space and schools

    Al-Awali is the most suburban of the five, served by Al-Aziziyah branch municipality (SPA). OpenStreetMap maps five schools inside the district, including a private Montessori school, and a girls’ campus of Umm Al-Qura University (OSM).

    The trade-off is distance. At about 12 km, a trip to the Haram is a planned outing rather than a quick walk, especially in Ramadan.

    Al-Shawqiyah: calm, with a park

    Al-Shawqiyah lies about 5 km south-west of the Haram and is mainly homes (OSM). OSM maps the Umm Al-Mu’minin Zainab Al-Hilaliyah Park and Walkway inside it, plus a supermarket and a mall.

    Its branch municipality also covers neighbouring districts such as Al-Kaakiyah and Batha Quraish (Wikipedia), so families often shortlist all three together.

    Al-Nasim: healthcare close by

    Al-Nasim, about 8 km south-east, is a mix of apartments and villas. Its standout for parents is that OSM maps Al-Noor Hospital inside the district, along with a mall (OSM). For families with young children or elderly relatives, that peace of mind counts.

    Batha Quraish: established and settled

    Batha Quraish, about 7 km south, is an older, settled district (OSM). OSM maps the Batha Quraish Walkway, handy for evening walks once the heat drops.

    Al-Aziziyah: close, but seasonal

    Al-Aziziyah is about 3 km from the Haram, towards Mina (OSM). Shops, clinics and a secondary school are all mapped inside it. The catch is Hajj season, when traffic and accommodation demand rise sharply. Families who choose it tend to plan school runs and shopping around that.

    What about the centre?

    Ajyad sits about 1 km from the Haram (OSM). It is ideal for walking to prayers but hard work with children: high-rises, hotels and heavy crowds in Ramadan and Hajj.

    Shortlisting with your family

    Before you choose a district

    • Drive the school run at the real time of day
    • Visit after Maghrib and on a Friday
    • Find the nearest hospital and pharmacy
    • Check bus routes on the official Makkah Bus app
    • Confirm school admission rules with the Ministry of Education
    • Register the lease on Ejar before paying

    For schools, start with the Ministry of Education’s admission page and our schools and tutors checklist. For contracts, use the official Ejar platform. For weekends, see our family activities guide.

    FAQ

    Which Makkah district is best for schools?

    Of the five, Al-Awali has the most schools mapped inside its boundary, plus a university campus.

    Which family district is closest to the Haram?

    Al-Aziziyah, at about 3 km in a straight line, though it is busiest in Hajj season.

    Are rents cheaper further from the Haram?

    Often, but not always. Compare real quotes for the same home size in each district.

    Last checked: 13 October 2026.

    Related

    Sources

  • Al-Awali, Makkah: Newer Housing and Suburban Family Life

    Al-Awali, Makkah: Newer Housing and Suburban Family Life

    Al-Awali is where many families look when they want more space and newer buildings. It is one of the more suburban parts of Makkah, well away from the central crowds, and it has the schools and shops to make that distance workable.

    This guide looks at it through that lens: newer housing, family services and the longer drive that comes with them.

    Quick answer

    Short answer: Al-Awali is a suburban district about 12 km south-east of the Haram, measured on OpenStreetMap, served by Al-Aziziyah branch municipality. It suits families who want space and are happy to drive.

    Where it is

    On OpenStreetMap, the centre of the Al-Awali boundary is about 12 km from Al-Masjid Al-Haram in a straight line, on a bearing of about 141° (south-east). It is one of the furthest of the districts in our guide.

    The Saudi Press Agency has reported Al-Aziziyah branch municipality’s work in Al-Awali, which tells you which municipal office serves it. Okaz listed Al-Aziziyah among Makkah’s 13 branch municipalities in 2022.

    Al-Awali to the Haram: distance by walking, bus and taxi

    Short answer: Al-Awali is about 12 km south-east of Al-Masjid Al-Haram in a straight line. By road the trip is roughly 18 km from the middle of the district, and it varies from its edges. It is too far to walk for daily prayers, so most residents drive or take a taxi.

    Way to travelApproximate distanceWhat to expect
    Straight lineAbout 12 kmMeasured from the centre of the district’s OpenStreetMap boundary to the Haram.
    WalkingAbout 18 km on a mapped walking routeAround four hours at a normal pace on the OpenStreetMap walking route. That isn’t realistic for a regular trip, especially in the heat or with family.
    Makkah BusDepends on your stopMakkah Bus routes and stops change, and they change again in Ramadan and Hajj. Check the official Makkah Bus app for the stop nearest your street before relying on it.
    Car or taxiAbout 18 km by roadRouting tools estimate around 15 to 20 minutes on empty roads. Expect much longer near prayer times, on Fridays and during Ramadan and Hajj.
    Distances are approximate and measured on OpenStreetMap-based routing, 22 Oct 2026.

    Tip: Before you sign a lease, do the trip to the Haram at the time you would really travel, such as before Maghrib or on a Friday. Traffic into the central area makes the biggest difference to how long it takes.

    Sources: OpenStreetMap: Al-Awali boundary, OpenStreetMap: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah Bus app.

    At a glance

    • Distance: about 12 km from the Haram, centroid to mosque (OSM).
    • Direction: south-east of the Haram (bearing about 141°).
    • Municipality: served by Al-Aziziyah branch municipality (SPA).
    • Education: OSM maps an Umm Al-Qura University girls’ campus and several schools here.

    Newer housing, more space

    Al-Awali has a suburban, newer feel compared with the older districts near the centre. Housing includes apartment buildings and larger family homes, and for many families the appeal is simply more room for the same household.

    Rents depend on size, age and finish, and they can differ a lot between a new building and an older one nearby. Compare current listings rather than relying on what friends paid, and check what is included, such as parking and maintenance.

    Tip

    In a newer building, ask who handles maintenance and how quickly. Snagging problems are common in the first year, and a clear answer now saves arguments later.

    Whatever you choose, register the lease on the official Ejar platform before you pay large sums.

    Schools and the university campus

    Education is one of Al-Awali’s strengths. OpenStreetMap maps five schools inside the district, including primary and intermediate schools and a private Montessori school, as well as a girls’ campus of Umm Al-Qura University.

    Check admission rules on the Ministry of Education’s admission page and visit before enrolling. Our schools and tutors checklist can help you shortlist.

    Shopping and daily life

    OSM maps a mall and supermarkets, including a Bin Dawood branch, within the boundary. That covers the weekly shop and most errands without a long drive. Our groceries guide has more tips.

    For healthcare, find the nearest primary care centre before you move. Our licensed clinic guide explains how.

    Getting around

    A car makes life much easier in Al-Awali. The Haram, central offices and family visits elsewhere in the city all mean a drive, so test your real routes at the times you would travel, including a Friday.

    If you need public transport, check the official Makkah Bus app for routes near your street. MBCO runs the citywide network.

    Al-AwaliCentral districts
    HousingNewer, more spaceOlder or high-rise
    Haram tripA driveOften walkable
    Busy seasonsFelt mostly on roadsCrowds at the door
    Schools nearbySeveral mapped in districtFewer, more visitor-led
    Al-Awali compared with central districts

    Who it suits

    Al-Awali suits families who want space, newer homes and schools nearby, and who are comfortable driving to the Haram. It is less suited to someone without a car who wants to pray at the Haram daily.

    Distance is the straight line between the district’s OpenStreetMap boundary centroid and Al-Masjid Al-Haram (OSM relation 1472531), measured 12 Oct 2026. Road distance is longer.

    Related

    Sources