Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — As per the yearly custom, the Kiswa, the black cloth with golden embroidery covering the Holy Kaaba, will be changed on Thursday (Dhul Hijjah 9), the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques announced on Friday.

Every year, the gatekeepers of the Kaaba carry a delicate, precise task to change the silky black cloth embroidered with gold draped over the holy structure.

As many as 160 artisans and technicians will take part in Thursday’s re-adorning of the new cover.

The process occurs annually on the 9th of Dul Hijjah, which marks the second day of Hajj.

On this day, as Muslims head to Mount Arafat to perform the most important ritual during their pilgrimage and the Kaaba gets a new kiswa.

The kiswa is made up of 670 kg of pure silk which is dyed black and has 120 kg of gold threads and 100 kg of silver. It is made upon 47 pieces which are joined together to cover all the corners of the Kaaba.