Qibla finder / United Arab Emirates

Qibla direction from Ajman, 257.8° west-southwest.

From Ajman, face 257.8° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 1,660 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 255.5°.

Qibla from Ajman257.8°

west-southwest (WSW), from true north

Distance to the Kaaba
1,660 km (1,031 miles)
Magnetic compass bearing
255.5°
Magnetic declination
2.3° east
City centre
25.4052, 55.5136

How to face the qibla

Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 255.5°. That is 257.8° from true north, adjusted for the 2.3° east magnetic declination in Ajman. Or open the live compass on your phone.

Worked out for the centre of Ajman. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.

Guide

Why the qibla is west-southwest from Ajman.

The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Ajman that path leaves heading west-southwest, at 257.8° from true north. Flat maps distort this route, so it can look wrong on a map even though it is the true direction.

A compass points to magnetic north, which in Ajman is 2.3° east of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 255.5°, differs from the true bearing.

Hanafi position

Someone far from Makkah faces the direction (jihah) of the Kaaba. A small turn to the left or right does not affect the prayer, and a prayer made after a genuine effort stays valid even if you later learn you were slightly off.

Other madhhabs
Shafi'i
The stronger view is to aim at the Kaaba itself by your best effort, even from far away.
Maliki, Hanbali
Facing the direction is enough, as in the Hanafi school.

Qibla from other cities in United Arab Emirates

CityQiblaDirection
Dubai258.2°WSW
Abu Dhabi260.2°W
Sharjah257.9°WSW
Al Ain262.4°W
Ras Al Khaimah256.9°WSW
Fujairah259.6°W
Umm Al Quwain257.2°WSW

The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.

Questions

Good to know.

What is the qibla direction from Ajman?

The qibla from Ajman is 257.8° from true north, which is west-southwest. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 255.5°.

How far is Ajman from Makkah?

About 1,660 km (1,031 miles) in a straight line over the globe.

Why is the qibla west-southwest from Ajman?

The qibla follows the shortest route over the curved Earth to the Kaaba, called a great circle. On a flat map this route looks curved, so the direction can look different from what a map suggests.

How exact do I need to be?

In the Hanafi school, someone far from Makkah faces the general direction of the Kaaba. A small turn to either side does not affect the prayer. Do your best, or follow the direction of your local masjid.