What city gets about 15 million visitors a year despite being forbidden for non-Muslims to enter?
Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city. Under the Saudi government, Mecca is governed by the Mecca Regional Municipality, a municipal council of 14 locally elected members headed by the mayor (called Amin in Arabic) appointed by the Saudi government.
Non-Muslims are strictly prohibited by Saudi Arabia from entering the Holy City of Mecca. However, the ban on visiting Medina, Islam's second holiest city, was lifted in 2023, allowing non-Muslims to enter the city—though access to the Prophet's Mosque remains restricted.
The Vatican City is unique in every way, including its religious composition. Islam, or any non-Christian faith for that matter, has no official presence here, making it the only country in the world with virtually zero Muslim population.
The Vatican is open to visitors of all faiths, including Muslims. In contrast, non-Muslims are generally banned from entering Mecca. Muslims have met with the Pope and participated in services at the Vatican. The Vatican also hosts fellowships that bring non-Christians, including Muslims, to study Christianity.
This City Was Banned for Non-Muslims...Now We’re In! 🇸🇦 (Spiritual)
Can a Hindu enter Vatican City?
The Vatican is open to tourists and visitors from all walks of life, regardless of their religious beliefs. Here's what you need to know: The Vatican is open to the general public: Contrary to popular misconception, the Vatican is not exclusively reserved for religious visits.
So Can a non-Muslim Visit Mecca? While some Muslims might find it ethically-okay for Christians and Jews to view Mecca depending on their state of cleanliness, their beliefs of the oneness of God, or their interest in converting to Islam, it is still illegal to be caught visiting Mecca as a non-Mulsim under Saudi Law.
In Mecca, only Muslims are allowed, while non-Muslims may not enter or pass through. Attempting to enter Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in penalties such as a fine; being in Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in deportation.
The Sentinelese tribe have lived on the island for over 50,000 years under the protection of the Indian Government. This region is strictly prohibited for visitors of any kind and is one of the most dangerous and forbidden places in the world.
Mecca is considered the holiest city in Islam, as it is home to Islam's holiest site Kaaba in Al-Masjid Al-Ḥaram (The Sacred Mosque). Only Muslims are allowed to enter this place.
🌀 Auroville – The City of Unity A place with no borders, no religion, no politics — only peace and purpose. Founded in 1968 near Puducherry, Auroville is a living experiment in human unity, where people from 50+ countries come together to live in harmony.
The world's smallest country i.e. Vatican City is the first country in the world where not a single Muslim lives. Vatican City is a religious and cultural place for the people of the Catholic community, the Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church worldwide, lives here.
São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island nation off the west coast of Central Africa, has no mosque. Estonia, a Baltic nation in Northern Europe, has no mosque. Its small Muslim community generally gathers in informal prayer rooms for worship. San Marino, one of the world's smallest republics, has no mosque.
You can take a Bible to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for personal use, but it's important to proceed with caution. Saudi Arabia has strict regulations regarding religious materials, and while possessing a Bible for personal use is generally tolerated, displaying or distributing it in public can lead to serious consequences.
The Sentinelese are an uncontacted Indigenous people living on North Sentinel Island, one of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean. They vigorously reject all contact with outsiders.
It is the largest royal palace in the world, built with exquisite and artistic architecture. The structure of the Forbidden City includes main areas such as the Outer Court, the Inner Court, various palaces, temples, and imperial gardens.
In 1956, the government of India declared North Sentinel Island a tribal reserve and prohibited travel within 3 nautical miles (5.6 kilometres) of it. It further maintains a constant armed patrol in the surrounding waters to prevent intrusions by outsiders.
The pre-Islamic Kaaba housed the Black Stone and statues of pagan gods. Muhammad reportedly cleansed the Kaaba of idols upon his victorious return to Mecca, returning the shrine to the monotheism of Ibrahim. The Black Stone is believed to have been given to Ibrahim by the angel Gabriel and is revered by Muslims.
