All festivals in Mecca are religious, consequently, non-islamic individuals are not allowed to participate. In fact non Muslims are not allowed to enter the city and there are many checkpoints leading up to the city.

Ramadan is the most important Islamic event and mandatory for Muslims. For a lunar month, Muslims fast for part of the day un til dusk. Once the month is over there is a great feast in the festival of Eid Ur Fitr. The festival of Eid Ul-Adha takes place during the hajj and commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael at the command of Allah.

Jinadriyah National Festival is the only non-religious festival; it takes place every February and it is inaugurated by the Crown Prince. The festival celebrates Saudi Arabian culture and its rich heritage. It has been transformed in its twenty years of life into a popular event among Saudi nationals. The two-week festival features a camel race that initiates the celebration, music recitals and national dances.