Holy Kaaba Receives New Kiswa for the Year 1447 AH, Weighing Over 1.4 Tons
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque will begin the ceremony of changing the Kiswa of the Holy Kaaba, as per the annual custom. At the beginning of the year 1447 AH, the Kaaba will be adorned with its new covering.
The process of changing the Kiswa follows the completion of its manufacturing stages at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa in Umm Al-Joud. The production took approximately 11 months and involved seven precise stages: water desalination, washing, weaving, printing, embroidery, assembly, and final inspection.
These stages included preparing special water with precise standards for washing; dyeing raw silk in the distinctive black color; weaving both patterned and plain fabrics for the Kiswa and its lining; printing Qur’anic verses with geometric precision on the fabric; assembling and sewing the parts; fixing the gilded elements; and embroidering the verses with high-quality silver and gold threads.
The process concluded with a thorough inspection to ensure the highest quality standards before installation. These stages reflect the great effort and high level of craftsmanship involved in producing this unique Kiswa.
The Kiswa is transported from the King Abdulaziz Complex to the Grand Mosque in a dedicated trailer. The gilded parts of the old Kiswa will be removed after Asr prayer on Wednesday, Dhu Al-Hijjah 29, 1446 AH. The official replacement ceremony inside the Grand Mosque is scheduled to begin early Thursday, the first of Muharram, 1447 AH.
The new Kiswa consists of 47 pieces of embroidered black silk, bearing 68 Qur’anic verses in silver threads plated with 24-karat gold. The total weight of the Kiswa is approximately 1,415 kilograms.
The Kiswa of the Holy Kaaba embodies the Kingdom’s utmost care for the Two Holy Mosques and its commitment to renewing this sacred covering in a manner that reflects its spiritual significance and sanctity in the hearts of Muslims around the world.
