Saudi authorities have completed all preparations for changing the Kiswah (cloth covering) of the Kaaba on the 1st of Muharram, 1446 AH. The process of changing the Kiswah involves the work of 159 technical experts and workers. Every year, the old Kiswah, adorned with gold and silver threads, is removed and replaced with a new one, which takes 3 to 4 hours to complete the process of placing it on the Kaaba.
According to international media, over 200 individuals are involved in the preparation of the Kiswah at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Kiswah, which includes the creation of the cloth for the House of Kaaba. The complex houses the world’s largest sewing machine, 16 meters long and operated by a computer system, used for various tasks related to the Kiswah.
For the preparation of the Kiswah, 1,000 kilograms of raw silk is used, dyed black inside the complex. Modern Jacquard machines are also present for weaving Quranic verses, ayahs, and prayers onto the cloth, using both black silk and simpler threads, incorporating gold and silver-threaded embroidery.
The Kiswah requires 120 kilograms of gold and 100 kilograms of silver threads for its adornment. Stringent quality control measures are followed at every stage of Kiswah preparation, with laboratory facilities available for material testing.
