MINA — On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah region handed over the Kiswa to the senior keeper of Kaaba, Dr. Saleh bin Zain-ul-Abidin Al-Shaibi.

Dr. Al-Shaibi was accompanied by the General President of the Affairs of the Holy Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque, Dr. Abdurrahman Al-Sudais.

The handover ceremony was held at the headquarters of Makkah's Principality in the holy site of Mina, in the presence of Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah region.

The handover and receipt minutes were signed between the General President of the Affairs of the Holy Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque, and the chief guardian of the Holy Grand Mosque, in preparation for the replacement of Kaaba's Kiswa on the first of the month of Muharram 1444 Hijri.

The Kiswa is made of special natural silk that is dyed black and manufactured by King Abdulaziz Complex For Holy Kaaba Kiswa, which is located at Umm Al-Jude district in Makkah.

The height of Kiswa is 14 metres, and in the upper third of it there is a belt with 95 centimeters wide and 47 meters long, consisting of 16 pieces surrounded by a square of Islamic decoration.

The Kiswa consists of four pieces of cloth, each piece covering one side of the holy Kaaba, and the 5th piece is the curtain that is placed on the door of the holy Kaaba and its manufacture passes through several stages.

The holy Kaaba's Kiswa needs a manpower of more than 200 employees. — SPA