Saudi Women Create History as They Participate in Kaaba Kiswa Replacement Ceremony
The event comes as part of the Kingdom's sustained efforts to empower women across various fields and sectors
In a groundbreaking move, Saudi women have participated for the first time in replacing the Kaaba's revered kiswa cloth.
This significant event underscores Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to advance female involvement across various sectors.
According to the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, female employees participated in Sunday's ceremonial changing of the Kaaba's kiswa—the black cloth adorned with gold and silver threads that drape the monument.
They assisted by carrying some of its components and handing them over to other workers, who then loaded them into a vehicle for transport to the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
During the annual ceremony following the Hajj pilgrimage season and marking the beginning of the new year in the Islamic calendar, participants replace the old kiswa with a new one by carefully securing the cloth around the corners and roof of the Kaaba.
Despite their roles being limited to the preparatory phases of the ceremony, this event represents the first recorded instance in history where women have taken part in the ritual. It comes as part of the Kingdom's sustained efforts to empower women across various fields and sectors nationwide.
Crafted from black silk adorned with gold-plated calligraphy, which includes verses from the Quran, the new Kiswa is a significant annual creation. This ritual of replacing the Kiswa occurs annually before the Hajj season begins.
