Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — The annual customary ceremony of replacing the Kiswa (cover) of the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah started officially on Wednesday evening.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, through the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa, is undertaking the ceremony of replacing Kiswa, which is a tradition that has been carried out for over a century.

The ceremony of replacing the Kiswa will be completed by Thursday morning, the first day of the new Hijri year. Earlier in a ceremony on June 8, Deputy Emir of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishaal handed over the new Kiswa to Abdul Malik bin Taha Al-Shaibi, the senior keeper of the Grand Mosque.

The new Kiswa was produced by the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa using natural black-dyed silk, embroidered in gold and silver threads. Officials and employees from the complex began the ceremony by removing the gilded curtain from the Kaaba door, which measures 6.35 meters in length and 3.33 meters in width, as well as dismantling the chandeliers and decorative ornaments. This marks the beginning of replacing the old Kiswa with a new one, crafted with exceptional precision and spiritual significance.

A fully Saudi team of 154 trained craftsmen, each scientifically and practically qualified, is overseeing the process. Their duties include raising the old Kiswa, detaching the gilded elements, and installing the new Kiswa, which comprises 47 intricately embroidered black silk panels featuring 68 Qur’anic verses stitched with 24-karat gold-plated silver threads. The entire Kiswa weighs approximately 1,415 kilograms.

To create the new Kiswa, the team used 120 kilograms of gold-plated silver thread, 60 kilograms of pure silver, 825 kilograms of silk, and 410 kilograms of raw cotton. Additionally, 54 gilded pieces were produced using eight specialized weaving machines within the complex.

The ceremony is a profound expression of the Kingdom's dedication to serving Islam’s holiest sites. The continued renewal of the Kaaba's Kiswa stands as a majestic and enduring symbol of reverence, care, and spiritual legacy upheld by Saudi Arabia for over a century.