Saudi Arabia begins annual Kaaba Kiswa replacement ceremony in Makkah
New Kiswa made of black silk, gold and silver thread marks start of Islamic New Year
MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — The traditional ceremony of replacing the Kiswa, the black silk covering of the Holy Kaaba, officially commenced at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, coinciding with the eve of the Islamic New Year.
Organized by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, the annual event is being carried out by the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa.
The ceremony, which has been held for more than a century, is scheduled for completion by Thursday morning, marking the first day of the Hijri year 1447.
Earlier this month, Deputy Emir of Makkah Saud bin Mishaal ceremonially handed over the new Kiswa to Abdul Malik bin Taha Al-Shaibi, the senior keeper of the Grand Mosque, in a symbolic gesture preceding the installation.
The new Kiswa was crafted using natural black-dyed silk and intricately embroidered with gold and silver threads.
The ceremony began with the removal of the gilded curtain from the Kaaba’s door, measuring 6.35 meters in height and 3.33 meters in width, followed by the dismantling of decorative fixtures—signaling the start of the sacred replacement process.
A team of 154 Saudi craftsmen, all professionally trained and certified, is responsible for the installation.
Their tasks include removing the previous Kiswa, detaching the gilded embellishments, and securing the new one—composed of 47 black silk panels embroidered with 68 Qur’anic verses using 24-karat gold-plated silver thread. The complete Kiswa weighs about 1,415 kilograms.
To manufacture the Kiswa, artisans utilized 120 kilograms of gold-plated silver threads, 60 kilograms of pure silver, 825 kilograms of silk, and 410 kilograms of raw cotton.
Additionally, 54 gilded pieces were created with the help of eight advanced weaving machines at the complex.
The ceremony not only signifies the renewal of the Kaaba’s exterior but also reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s deep commitment to preserving and honoring Islam’s holiest shrine.
For more than 100 years, the annual replacement of the Kiswa has stood as a powerful symbol of reverence, devotion, and cultural continuity.
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