The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has completed its annual maintenance of the Ka'bah and raised the lower section of the Kiswa by three metres, officially signalling the start of the Hajj 2026 season.
47 Hours of Maintenance
A specialised team completed maintenance work on the interior and exterior walls of the Ka'bah within 47 hours. The project involved the beautification and restoration of Maqam Ibrahim - the stone bearing the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), which is encased in gold and crystal near the Ka'bah.
The lower section of the Ka'bah has been covered with white cloth on all four sides, a traditional practice that protects the Kiswa from damage during the intense crowding of the Hajj days.
Kiswa Raising Ceremony
The Kiswa - the embroidered black cloth that covers the Ka'bah - was raised in the early hours of April 18 at 1 AM by a team of 34 skilled craftsmen who completed the task within two hours. According to the Saudi Gazette, the raising of the Kiswa is performed annually ahead of the Hajj season and is one of the most symbolic preparations visible to pilgrims.
Miqat Preparations
Saudi authorities have also completed preparations at the Miqat stations - the boundary points where pilgrims enter the state of Ihram. Over 230 surveillance cameras have been installed across the Miqat locations and at mosques in the surrounding area. A comprehensive signage project has been put in place to guide pilgrims and mark routes clearly.
With these preparations complete, the holy sites are now fully ready to receive the millions of pilgrims expected for Hajj 2026, with the Day of Arafah anticipated around May 26.