{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/saudi-arabia/mecca","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:20:39.742Z","place":{"city":"Mecca","country":"Saudi Arabia","countryCode":"SA","lat":21.42664,"lon":39.82563},"safety":{"score":44,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":32,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[{"max":44,"reason":"Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel"}],"databaseScore":44,"travellerSentiment":{"score":75,"label":"Mixed—safe if prepared, stressful if not","summary":"Pilgrims who arrive organized and follow guidance report Mecca as safer than many global cities for violent crime. However, recent traveler reports (2026) highlight stress from extreme heat, overwhelming crowds, logistical confusion, and encountering multiple scammers—making the experience feel chaotic and unsafe for the unprepared. Sentiment is broadly positive for Muslims with clear expectations; negative for those surprised by conditions.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":62,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":71,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":75,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":30,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":70,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":64,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-07-25T17:34:42Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":3,"label":"Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/saudi-arabia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":0.935259944754359,"display":"0.9 / 100k","year":"2019","score":95,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":18.5,"display":"18.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":45,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":65.0715555,"display":"65/100","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":60.5850662,"display":"61/100","year":"2024","score":61,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":63.0932113,"display":"63/100","year":"2024","score":63,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":66.5710105,"display":"67/100","year":"2024","score":67,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":66.0645617,"display":"66/100","year":"2024","score":66,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":29.7683225,"display":"30/100","year":"2024","score":30,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1578722,"display":"1.6M residents","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":92.6,"display":"92.6%","year":"2023","score":98,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.14,"display":"0.14 / 100k","year":"2023","score":90,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":110,"display":"US AQI 110 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups","year":null,"score":62,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":24.071459213,"display":"24 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":43,"display":"July: highs ~43°C · dangerous heat","year":null,"score":45,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 2 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":3,"display":"Level 3 — Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":30,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":62,"display":"62 / 100 (Mixed—safe if prepared, stressful if not)","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Mecca is moderately safe from street crime but faces significant risks from extreme heat, dense crowds during pilgrimage season, pick-pocketing, scams, and strict legal enforcement—travel only if you are a Muslim pilgrim prepared for these conditions, and avoid the period due to ongoing regional geopolitical tension.","summary":"Mecca has very low violent crime rates (0.9 homicides per 100k) and heavy security, but the composite safety score of 44/100 reflects a Level 3 official advisory due to regional conflict and strict legal penalties for cultural violations. The real on-the-ground risks for visitors are extreme heat (42°C in July), crowd-related incidents during peak pilgrimage, opportunistic pick-pocketing in crowded areas, and scams targeting pilgrims—not mugging or assault.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are rare; homicide rate is 0.9 per 100k. However, avoid walking alone after dark in unfamiliar residential areas outside the central pilgrimage zones."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Organized pick-pocketing is common in crowds around the Grand Mosque and during Tawaf, especially during peak Umrah season. Thieves target backpacks, loose wallets, and phones."},"safeAreas":["Ajyad","Al-Mansiyah","Al-Rawda"],"avoidAreas":["Al Aziziyah (one of Mecca's most dangerous neighborhoods)"],"scams":["Fake Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage packages from unlicensed operators","Tawaf (circumambulation) pickpocket rings in crowded Haram areas","Counterfeit Zamzam holy water sold outside official sources","Hotel bait-and-switch—booking one property, told to stay elsewhere","Unauthorised guides charging inflated rates or providing poor service","Souvenir vendors charging 5–10× normal prices to pilgrims"],"zones":[{"name":"Haram (Grand Mosque area)","level":"caution","note":"Maximum security but dangerously crowded during Umrah/Hajj with organized pickpocketing in congested zones"},{"name":"Al Aziziyah","level":"avoid","note":"Listed as one of Mecca's most problematic neighborhoods; do not travel here"},{"name":"Al-Balad","level":"caution","note":"Historic commercial center; generally safe but watch for pilgrim-targeting scams and unauthorized guides"},{"name":"Ajyad","level":"safe","note":"Near Grand Mosque with moderate-to-good security; reasonably safe for daytime travel"},{"name":"Al-Mansiyah","level":"safe","note":"Residential area with lower tourist traffic and minimal scam targeting"},{"name":"Al-Rawda","level":"safe","note":"Quieter residential district; safe with minimal tourist-targeting crime"},{"name":"Umm Al-Qura","level":"caution","note":"Central commercial zone; moderate crowds and standard scam/theft vigilance required"}]}}