The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has announced fixed daily entry times for worshippers wishing to step inside Hijr Ismail, the semi-circular area beside the Holy Ka'bah. Under the new schedule, women may enter from 6:00 am to 9:00 am, while men are admitted from 10:00 am onward. The authority said the timings are designed to regulate movement, ease congestion, and improve the experience of pilgrims performing Umrah at Islam's holiest site.
What the new schedule means for pilgrims
Hijr Ismail, also known as the Hateem, is one of the most sought-after spots inside Masjid al-Haram. Space within the low semi-circular wall is limited, and during busy seasons the crush of worshippers trying to pray there can slow the flow of those making Tawaf around the Ka'bah. By separating men's and women's access into distinct windows, the authority aims to give each group a calmer opportunity to pray while keeping the wider courtyard moving.
The arrangement reflects a broader pattern across the Two Holy Mosques, where authorities increasingly use timed permits and designated windows to manage record numbers of visitors. Worshippers planning to pray inside the Hateem should now check the posted times before heading to the area, rather than assuming access is open throughout the day.
Why Hijr Ismail holds special significance
Hijr Ismail sits on the northern side of the Ka'bah and is considered, in part, to belong to the original structure of the Sacred House. Scholars note that when the Quraysh rebuilt the Ka'bah before the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), they fell short of the funds needed to complete it on the foundations laid by Ibrahim and his son Ismail. As a result, a portion of the original footprint was left outside the cube and enclosed by the curved wall seen today.
This history gives the area particular weight for many pilgrims. The Prophet (peace be upon him) indicated that praying within the Hijr is, in effect, praying inside the Ka'bah itself. This is recorded in a well-known narration in which Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) wished to pray inside the Ka'bah, and the Prophet directed her to pray in the Hijr, telling her it is part of the House (Abu Dawud 2028, Tirmidhi 876). For that reason, gaining a few moments inside the wall is a cherished goal for visitors, and demand routinely exceeds the available space.
A wider push to manage crowds
The entry times form one part of a larger effort to organise worship at the Grand Mosque as the 1448 AH Umrah season gets under way. Saudi authorities have rolled out timed permits for the Rawdah in Madinah, crowd-density monitoring around the Mataf, and digital services through the Nusuk platform. The Hijr Ismail schedule extends that approach to one of the mosque's most concentrated pressure points.
Officials have stressed that such measures are about safety and access rather than restriction. Spreading visits across set windows reduces the risk of dangerous bottlenecks near the Ka'bah, where pilgrims performing Tawaf, those praying at the Maqam Ibrahim, and those seeking the Hijr all converge in a small space.
Practical tips for visitors
Pilgrims hoping to pray inside Hijr Ismail should plan around the published windows: women in the early morning hours after Fajr, men later in the morning. Arriving a little before the window opens can help, as the area fills quickly. Worshippers should keep their prayers brief and considerate so that others waiting can also enter, and should follow the directions of the mosque's guides and security staff at all times.
Those unable to secure a place inside the wall should remember that the entire Mataf and the Grand Mosque carry immense reward, and that forcing one's way into a crowded space can cause harm to oneself and others. Patience, gentleness, and care for fellow pilgrims remain part of the worship itself. Visitors are encouraged to confirm the latest timings on official channels before their visit, as schedules may be adjusted during peak periods.