The new Kiswa to cover the Holy Ka'ba is completed and will be handed over to officials of the Grand Mosque on the 1st of Dhul-Hijja. This is probably on Nov.18, depending on the sighting of the new moon. Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussayyin, General President for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is scheduled to hand over the new Kiswa to Abdul Aziz Al-Shaibi, Chief Keeper (Sadin) of the Grand Mosque, in a ceremony on the 1st of Dhul-Hijja, 1430H. Muhammad Bin Abdul Kareem Al-Quwaifili, Supervisor General of the Holy Ka'ba's Kiswa Factory Administration, said a specialist team will take down the old Kiswa on the 8th of Dhul-Hijja. The parts with embroidered golden threads, including the corners and the curtain, will be dismantled. After dawn on the 9th of Dhul-Hijja, the new Kiswa is placed over the Holy Ka'ba. After this is done, specialist technicians stationed at the Grand Mosque then fold it from the bottom, up to a height of three meters from the marbled floor. This is an annual custom aimed at preventing the Kiswa from being torn by pilgrims in the crowded area around the Ka'ba during Haj. A number of specialist technicians will be ready around the clock to repair any damage to the Kiswa. Al-Quwaifili said the manufacturing of the Kiswa goes through several stages. This includes dyeing, computerized manufacturing of the fabric, printing of the Qur'anic verses at the printing department, embroidery of the Qur'anic verses using gold thread, and finally the collection of all the pieces into the complete Kiswa at the Thobe Department. Al-Quwaifili said the manufacture of the Ka'ba's Kiswa is carried out by over 140 specialist Saudi technicians. The factory produces one whole Kiswa every year. The factory also manufactures the national flags of different sizes according to national regulations.
