Makkah, June 3 (Petra) – The cost of producing this year’s Kiswa, the ceremonial cloth covering the holy Kaaba, reached SAR 25 million, according to Ahmed Al-Suweihri, Director of Public Relations and Media at the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa.

During a visit by a media delegation representing several Arab and international news agencies and broadcasters to the Kiswa factory on Tuesday, Al-Suweihri explained that the cloth is made from high-quality gold threads imported from Germany and the finest silk imported from Italy. The process of producing the Kiswa takes around 10 months and is completed annually on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah.

He stressed the exceptional quality of the threads and fabric, which are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and high temperatures.

Al-Suweihri also gave the visiting journalists an overview of the stages involved in manufacturing the Kiswa, which has been produced in Saudi Arabia for over a century. A total of 159 craftsmen are involved in weaving the gold and silver threads used in the cloth at the King Abdulaziz Complex.

The Kaaba’s design includes five lanterns, with the uppermost bearing the inscription "Allahu Akbar," marking the starting point of circumambulation (tawaf). It also features four panels inscribed with "Al-Samad" (a name of God), 7,400 threads, and 54 gilded textiles.

The visit also included the screening of a documentary film that detailed the silk testing stages (for softness and durability) prior to dyeing, followed by the washing and dyeing phases, where white silk is dyed black. The dyed threads are then dried and transformed into nine strong, weather-resistant strands known for their softness and durability.

//Petra// AF

03/06/2025 20:22:35