{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1588303,
        "msgid": "the-cost-of-making-the-kiswah-the-kaabas-gold-embroidered-covering-1772643854",
        "date": "2026-03-04 23:07:00",
        "title": "The Cost of Making the Kiswah, the Kaaba's Gold-Embroidered Covering",
        "author": "Muhammad Idris",
        "source": "KOMPAS",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Economy",
        "summary": "Saudi Arabia's Kiswah\u2014the black Kaaba covering adorned with gold calligraphy\u2014costs over SAR 20 million to produce annually. The cloth weighs about 980 kilograms and is made from 760 kilograms of black silk plus gold and silver wires, assembled in 47 pieces before being sewn into a single covering; its production began under Abdulaziz Ibn Saud in 1927 and remains a state-led enterprise.",
        "content": "<p>Every year, the Kiswah\u2014the Kaaba\u2019s black covering adorned with gold\ncalligraphy\u2014 is replaced through a special ceremony at the Masjid\nal-Haram in Mecca. The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sets\nthat the Kiswah is handed over to the Haram administration on Eid\nal-Adha (10 Dhu al-Hijjah). The annual replacement takes place on 1\nMuharram.<\/p>\n<p>After production is completed, usually in the middle of Dhu\nal-Qa\u2019dah, an annual ceremony is held at the Kiswah factory before the\nfabric is officially handed over.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Saudi Ministry of Media\u2019s 2022 page, the annual cost\nof Kiswah production is reported to exceed SAR 20 million, which in\nrupiah is around Rp 89.97 billion (exchange rate Rp 4,490).<\/p>\n<p>The Kiswah weighs about 980 kilograms in total, consisting of 760 kg\nof black silk, 120 kg of gold wire, and 100 kg of silver wire.<\/p>\n<p>The cloth is produced in 47 separate pieces, each measuring a width\nof 98 centimetres and a height of 14 metres, before being sewn into a\nsingle seamless covering that drapes the entire Kaaba.<\/p>\n<p>The modern management of Kiswah began during the era of the Kingdom\u2019s\nfounder, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. In 1927 he ordered the establishment of a\nKiswah factory in the Ajyad area of Mecca.<\/p>\n<p>The complex became the hub for all production stages until the annual\nreplacement.<\/p>\n<p>The Kiswah production involves around 220 artisans and technicians\nwho work across the various artistic and operational departments.<\/p>\n<p>The production stages start with dyeing natural silk as the base\nmaterial. After that, the threads are processed through automatic\nweaving machines to form the base fabric with the calligraphic patterns\nof Quranic verses.<\/p>\n<p>The laboratory department then conducts quality testing, including\ntensile strength and resistance to erosion. This stage ensures the silk\nand cotton meet the standards set.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-cost-of-making-the-kiswah-the-kaabas-gold-embroidered-covering-1772643854",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}