Holy Kaaba ‘Kiswa’ Cover Is Replaced in Annual Tradition

The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)
The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)
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Holy Kaaba ‘Kiswa’ Cover Is Replaced in Annual Tradition

The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)
The installed Kiswa weighs around 1,350 kilograms and is 14 meters high, (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque adorned on Sunday the holy Kaaba in Makkah with a new cover, or Kiswa.

Replacing the Kiswa is an annual tradition. A team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, consisting of 159 craftsmen, carried out the operation.

A team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, consisting of 159 craftsmen, carried out the operation. (SPA)

The installed Kiswa, weighing around 1,350 kilograms and standing 14 meters high, consists of four separate sides and a door curtain. The belt was aligned in a straight line along the four sides and sewn into place.

The Kiswa is made of around 1,000 kilograms of raw silk, dyed black within the complex, 120 kilograms of gold threads, and 100 kilograms of silver threads. The Kiswa belt consists of 16 pieces, along with seven pieces below the belt.

Replacing the Kiswa is an annual tradition. (SPA)

The King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa employs around 200 craftsmen and administrators.

The complex includes several departments: dyeing and automated weaving, hand weaving, printing, belt-making, gilding, sewing, and assembly of the Kiswa.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque adorned on Sunday the holy Kaaba in Makkah with a new cover. (SPA)

It houses the world's largest sewing machine, measuring 16 meters, and operating with computerized systems. Additionally, there are supporting departments such as the laboratory, administrative services, quality control, public relations, health services for workers, and occupational safety.



Turaif Governorate Adorned in Green in Preparation for Saudi National Day

The governorate is also hosting a diverse array of national, cultural, and artistic events - SPA
The governorate is also hosting a diverse array of national, cultural, and artistic events - SPA
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Turaif Governorate Adorned in Green in Preparation for Saudi National Day

The governorate is also hosting a diverse array of national, cultural, and artistic events - SPA
The governorate is also hosting a diverse array of national, cultural, and artistic events - SPA

Turaif Governorate in Northern Borders Region has been adorned in green in preparation for Saudi National Day.

The municipality showcased its preparations by decorating the streets with flags and green lighting, SPA reported.

The governorate is also hosting a diverse array of national, cultural, and artistic events, combining patriotic performances and entertainment programs with activities tailored for families and children.


Green Riyadh Launches Tree-Planting and Cleanup Campaign

File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT
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Green Riyadh Launches Tree-Planting and Cleanup Campaign

File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT

Green Riyadh, one of the programs overseen by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, has launched a tree-planting and cleanup campaign at Shuaib Umm Qasr to coincide with Saudi National Day celebrations, the Saudi Press Agency said Sunday.

The campaign will be held on September 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is open to male and female volunteers from all segments of society. Participants will receive volunteer certificates in recognition of their active contributions to environmental service.

The initiative aims to attract volunteers to participate in tree planting and cleanup activities, thereby promoting community engagement and a culture of volunteerism while supporting national efforts to protect the environment and achieve sustainability.


82-year-old Dies after Beach Fight in Greece over Sun Lounger

Tourists from a nearby hotel watch military helicopters fly overhead during Medusa 15, a joint military exercise led by Greece and Egypt, at Maleme on the Greek island of Crete, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Tourists from a nearby hotel watch military helicopters fly overhead during Medusa 15, a joint military exercise led by Greece and Egypt, at Maleme on the Greek island of Crete, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
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82-year-old Dies after Beach Fight in Greece over Sun Lounger

Tourists from a nearby hotel watch military helicopters fly overhead during Medusa 15, a joint military exercise led by Greece and Egypt, at Maleme on the Greek island of Crete, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Tourists from a nearby hotel watch military helicopters fly overhead during Medusa 15, a joint military exercise led by Greece and Egypt, at Maleme on the Greek island of Crete, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

An 82-year-old man died Sunday after he got into a fight over a sun lounger on a beach in Greece near Athens, local media reported.

The octogenarian had a dispute with a 76-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman over the sun lounger, with the argument degenerating into a scuffle between the two men, according to police, the ANA news agency and ERT state television channel reported.

The 82-year-old, badly hurt, was transported to hospital from the Vouliagmeni beach resort area where the argument broke out. He was later declared dead at the hospital, AFP said.

Both the 76-year-old man and the 21-year-old woman were arrested, ANA said, with police investigating what happened.