The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque completed the ceremonial replacement of the Kiswa—the black silk cloth that drapes the Holy Kaaba—on Thursday.
The event marked the arrival of the Islamic year 1447 AH. The new Kiswa was draped in the early hours of Muharram 1, aligning with the beginning of the Hijri New Year.
This exquisite cloth was carefully crafted over nearly 11 months at the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswah, located in Mecca’s Umm Al Joud district.
The changing of the Kiswa, a tradition rooted in Islamic heritage, began on Wednesday afternoon after the Asr prayer on the 29th of Dhu Al Hijjah, with the removal of the previous covering. A dedicated team of technicians and artisans from the complex meticulously oversaw every step of the process.
As part of a carefully coordinated process, the gilded curtain from the Kaaba door, which measures 6.35 metres in length and 3.33 metres in width, was removed first.
A Saudi team of 154 trained craftsmen oversaw the process and their duties include raising the old Kiswa, detaching the gilded elements, and installing the new Kiswa.
The 2025 Kiswa comprises 47 finely woven panels of black silk and features 68 Quranic verses, elegantly embroidered with silver threads coated in 24-karat gold. Weighing around 1,415 kilograms, the new covering is a striking display of Islamic artistry and devotion.
This annual event holds profound spiritual meaning for Muslims around the world, symbolizing renewal, purity, and devotion as a new year begins on the Islamic calendar.
The ceremony was conducted with great care and reverence, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s steadfast commitment to preserving and upholding the sacred traditions of Islam.
