How the Qibla direction is calculated
The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, at latitude 21.4225° N and longitude 39.8262° E. This tool uses the great-circle method, the shortest path over the surface of the Earth, which is the method used by most mosques, Islamic authorities and prayer apps. The result is an initial bearing measured clockwise from true north. From Dubai the Qibla is about 258°, a little south of due west; from Riyadh it is about 244°; from London it is about 119°, to the south-east; and from New York it is about 58°, to the north-east, not south-east as a flat map suggests.
Using the live compass on your phone
Most Android phones and iPhones have a magnetometer. When you tap "Use phone compass", the page reads the phone's heading and rotates the dial so that north on the dial matches real north. The green arrow then points to the Kaaba, and a message tells you how many degrees to turn. iPhones ask for permission first; that permission covers motion and orientation only. Phone compasses are affected by metal, magnets, cars and some phone cases, so stand away from them, hold the phone flat, and if the reading jumps, move the phone in a figure-eight to recalibrate.
No compass? Use the bearing
Laptops and some tablets have no compass. In that case use the number of degrees. Find north with a handheld compass, the sun or a known landmark, then turn clockwise by the bearing shown. In the UAE the difference between magnetic north and true north is only about 2 degrees, which is far smaller than the width of a prayer line, so a normal compass is accurate enough. In most of Europe and North America the difference is also small, though it can reach 10 degrees or more in places such as Canada.
Your location stays private
Your browser shares your coordinates with this page only after you agree. The calculation happens on your device, and the coordinates are not sent to NeedMyTools, stored, or used for ads. If you prefer not to share your location at all, pick your city from the list or type latitude and longitude, which you can copy from any map app. For a city-level choice the direction is accurate to well under one degree anywhere within the city.