Mecca (مكة‎‎) is a city in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia that is also capital of the Makkah Region. The city is located 70 km inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of 277 m above sea level. Its resident population is roughly 2 million, although visitors triple this number every year during the hajj 4period. As the birthplace of Muhammed and the site of Muhammed's first revelation of the Qur'an, Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in the religion of Islam and a pilgrimage to it known as the Hajj is obligatory for all able Muslims. Mecca is home to the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, as well as being the direction of Muslim prayer.