Qibla direction in Iraq
Across 18 cities in Iraq, the Qibla points south-southwest (SSW): 190.9°–220.6° from true north, from Dihok to Baghdad. Nasiriyah is the closest to Mecca at 1,248 km, Dihok the farthest at 1,744 km.
Qibla by city in Iraq
Bearings are from true north, largest cities first. Each city has a Qibla page with the compass and a prayer-times page with today and the next seven days.
| City | Bearing | Direction | To Mecca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baghdadprayer times | 199.9° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,400 km |
| Mosulprayer times | 191.8° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,689 km |
| Erbilprayer times | 195.0° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,692 km |
| Basrahprayer times | 220.0° | southwest (SW) | 1,285 km |
| Karbalaprayer times | 199.5° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,312 km |
| Sadr Cityprayer times | 200.1° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,406 km |
| Kirkukprayer times | 197.1° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,624 km |
| Abū Ghuraybprayer times | 199.1° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,389 km |
| Sulaymaniyahprayer times | 200.6° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,664 km |
| Nasiriyahprayer times | 212.4° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,248 km |
| Najafprayer times | 201.9° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,261 km |
| Al Hillahprayer times | 201.4° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,309 km |
| Abū al-Kahṣībprayer times | 220.6° | southwest (SW) | 1,285 km |
| Al Maḩmūdīyahprayer times | 200.2° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,369 km |
| Dihokprayer times | 190.9° | south (S) | 1,744 km |
| Al ‘Amārahprayer times | 213.9° | southwest (SW) | 1,366 km |
| Al Diwaniyahprayer times | 204.5° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,279 km |
| Al-Kutprayer times | 207.1° | south-southwest (SSW) | 1,368 km |
How to face the Qibla in Iraq
- Open your phone’s compass and set it to true north if the app allows it.
- Turn until the compass reads the bearing of your city from the table above.
- You are now facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
If the compass only shows magnetic north, correct for the local magnetic declination. For the bearing at your exact position rather than the city centre, the live Qibla finder uses your device location and compass.
Also for Iraq: prayer times for your location and sunrise and sunset in Iraq.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Qibla direction in Iraq?
In Iraq the Qibla is to the south-southwest (SSW): 190.9°–220.6° from true north depending on the city. From Baghdad, the largest city, it is 199.9°. Face that bearing to face the Kaaba in Mecca.
Is the Qibla the same everywhere in Iraq?
Nearly. Across the 18 cities listed here it changes by 29.7°, from 190.9° in Dihok to 220.6° in Baghdad. A city-level bearing is accurate for the whole city; the live Qibla finder gives the bearing for your exact position.
How far is Iraq from Mecca?
Nasiriyah is the closest city in this list, 1,248 km from the Kaaba along the great circle, and Dihok the farthest at 1,744 km.