permit to visit kiswa factory

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How to book Kiswa factory appointment?

Table of Contents

The cover of the Holy Kaaba is prepared in the King Abdul Aziz Complex, also known as the Kiswah factory. If you want to see the process of making the cover of the Holy Kaaba called Kiswa, book an appointment/permit to visit the factory.

24 Historical Ziyarat places in Makkah

Kiswah factory.

Kiswa is the black cloth that covers the Holy Kaaba. Every year, the Saudi government prepares a new Kiswa in a factory in Makkah. The factory workers write the inscriptions on the Kiswa.

Here, you can see the stages of Kiswah making and view rare archaeological collectibles and ancient and modern pieces of Kiswa.

• What is written on Kiswah?

Requirements

Any Iqama holder, Umrah Visa holder, or visitor can book an appointment to visit the Kiswa factory if they have the following;

• Absher Account .
• Mobile Number Registered with Absher.
• Nafath Account .

Appointment for the Kiswah factory

To book the appointment to visit the Kiswah factory,

• Click on https://eservices.gph.gov.sa/login
• Click on “ تسجيل الدخول “.
• Enter your Iqama Number.
• Approve the Nafath access .
• Scroll down and click on the “ تصاريح مجمع الملك عبدالعزيز لكسوة الكعبة “.

On the next page, you must select the following services to book an appointment to visit the Kiswa factory.

• Click on “ ابدأ الخدمة ” to start the service.
• Tap on the 3-lines on the upper right corner.
• Select “ إضافة تصريح زيارة لمصنع الكسوة ” from the drop-down.
• Agree to the terms and conditions on the next page.

On the next page, you must fill out the form to book a Kiswa factory appointment.

• نوع الزيارة: الأفراد
• عدد الزوار: Number of visitors.
• Maximum People: 50 .
• Select the date and time for the visit.
• If you have selected more than 1 member, write the name and the nationality of all.

On the next page, the system will show you that the Kiswa factory permit has been issued. Make sure to visit the factory at the specified time.

• Kiswa Factory location .

Check the Kiswa Factory Permit

You can check the status of the Kiswa factory appointment online. To do it;

On the next screen, you will find all the permits issued by the Saudi Government for the Kiswa factory.

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Kiswa & Kiswa Factory 2024: Visit, History, Verses, & Making

As a Saudi Arabia blogger, I’ve explored bustling souks, serene wadis, and the breath-taking sandscapes of the Empty Quarter .

But nothing stirs my soul quite like the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam.

And what adorns it with timeless elegance?

The Kiswa, of course!

Today, I’m inviting you on a fascinating journey of my experience into the heart of this sacred tradition, the Kiswa Factory with covering everything from top-to-bottom.

What is the Kiswa?

Imagine a magnificent black curtain, adorned with calligraphic verses in shimmering gold, enveloping the cube-shaped Kaaba.

That’s the Kiswa (AKA, Ghilaf-e-Ka’bah), a testament to faith and craftsmanship, replaced annually during the Hajj pilgrimage.

Its outer layer is pure black silk, while the inner lining boasts vibrant green silk.

History of Kiswa

During the Ottoman Empire, this is a rare sight of workers working on the Kiswa (Gilaf e Ka’bah).

The Kiswa’s story stretches back centuries.

Some say Prophet Ismail (AS) first covered the Kaaba, while others attribute it to his grandfather.

Through the ages, various rulers and communities contributed to its creation, using diverse materials like linen and Egyptian brocade.

In 1927, King Abdulaziz established a dedicated workshop in Makkah , marking the birth of the modern Kiswa Factory.

Also Read: Prophet Adam (A.S): History, Grave, Height, Children & More

The Kiswa-Making Process

Today, over 240 skilled artisans meticulously craft the Kiswa.

The journey begins with 700KG raw silk, imported from Italy and Switzerland.

It’s dyed, woven into panels on traditional Jacquard looms, and finally, the magic unfolds.

Expert calligraphers, using 120 KG of gold threaded needles, meticulously embroider verses from the Quran onto the black panels.

The process is a symphony of dedication and precision, taking roughly eight months to complete.

Calligraphic Style on Kiswa

The calligraphic style used on the Kiswa is known as Thuluth , characterized by its bold strokes, clear curves, and balanced proportions.

This style provides excellent legibility from afar, ensuring that the pilgrims can easily read the verses even from a distance.

Verses in Golden Threads of Kiswa

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What is the Kiswa Factory?

The Kiswa factory produces the cloth that covers the Kabah throughout the year. The factory takes around ten months to make it. On every 9th of Dhul Hajjah , the new Kiswa replaces the old one during the annual pilgrimage.

You can visit the factory for an hour or so to watch the lucky few who sew the gold letters onto the fabric. The factory is about a 10-minute drive from Masjid al-Haram and requires an appointment for a visit .

This appointment allows for easy entry for visits to the factory and thus can be acquired online.

Who is Eligible to Enter?

An appointment requires a minimum number of 20 people. So if you want to visit alone or with your family, this can be a problem.

Moreover, you must also be part of one of the three groups: Entities and Institutions – Pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims , Schools/Colleges/Universities, and official delegations. The maximum number of people in the group is 100.

Recommended: Digital Iqama: All You Need To Know 

How To Make An Appointment

First thing first, you need an account on the e-service website. To make the account, click here .  

This is how the login dashboard will appear on the link. This requires you to enter basic information like nationality, ID number, and mobile number.

The website is originally in Arabic, but the webpage can be translated into English using Google Chrome.

Once you’ve logged into your newly made account, click this link . 

• Firstly, you’ll select the “ permit of the King Abdul Aziz Complex for the coverings of the Kabaa.”  
• This will show a dropdown menu to select the “ log in to the system .”
• Here, you’ll enter your account information again for verification.
• This will lead you to an entry form.
• You’ll also have to attach an official letter of request from the requesting party. Ideally, this letter should be from the official delegation for which you’re taking a permit.
• Make sure the date and time of the appointment are correct, and be punctual on the day of the visit.

Enjoy the visit!

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How To Visit The Kiswa Factory? full instructions

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Instructions to Visiting The Kiswa Factory The Kabah’s covering is made all year round at the Kiswa plant. It takes the factory about ten months to produce it. The new Kiswa replaces the old one during the yearly pilgrimage on the ninth of Dhul Hajjah.

You can spend an hour or more at the factory watching the select few embroider the gold lettering onto the fabric. A visit to the factory, which is about a 10-minute drive from Masjid al-Haram, requires an appointment for a visit .

This appointment is available online and enables simple entrance for factory visits.

Who is eligible to enter the kiswah factory? 20 individuals are required for an appointment at the very least. This can be a problem if you want to travel alone or only with your family.

Additionally, you need to belong to one of the three following groups: Entities and Institutions: Umrah and pilgrims, educational institutions, official delegations. A group can have a maximum of 100 members.

How to Book an Appointment You must create an account on the e-service website first. To create an account, go here .

The login dashboard will look like this when you click the link. You must complete the necessary details, including your nationality, ID number, and mobile number.

Google Chrome can translate the Arabic-language version of the website into English.

Click on this link once you’ve signed into your freshly created account. link . 

The “permission of the King Abdul Aziz Complex for the coverings of the Kabaa” is the first option you’ll choose. A dropdown menu to choose “log in to the system” will appear as a result. You must reenter your account details here for validation. This will take you to a submission form. You must also include an official letter of request from the party making the request. This letter should ideally come from the official delegation that you are requesting the permit for. Verify the appointment’s date and time, and arrive on time the day of the visit. Have a great time.

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Latest March 30, 2023 at 3:50 pm

Here’s How You Can Visit Makkah’s Kiswah Factory

The Kiswah Factory is actually one of the most important places to visit on your trip to Makkah. You get to experience and witness the intricate details that are put into the Holy Kaaba’s Kiswah.

You must visit the site in groups of minimum 20 people

Due to high demand of visitors and limited guides, the factory only allows groups of 20 or more to visit. The factory is open from 9am to 12pm, and all visitors must make an appointment online before coming.

Visit this website to register for a visit

Visitors are limited to groups that are regulated by Hajj and Umrah agents, Schools, Universities, and Colleges, and lastly, Official Delegations. You have to fill out information regarding the organization’s name, details, and request letter in order to obtain a permit.

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How to visit Kishwa Factory of the Holy Kaaba ?

The Kiswa Factory is a factory in Saudi Arabia where the Kiswa, the cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, is produced. The Kiswa is a black brocade cloth embroidered with gold-threaded verses from the Quran. It is replaced annually during the Hajj pilgrimage. The factory, established in 1927, employs skilled craftsmen. It takes approximately ten months for the factory to produce it. On the 9th day of Dhul Hajjah every year. Who is Eligible to Enter in Kiswa factory? If you want to make an appointment minimum no 20 person. so if we want to visit with our family it is not possible. Appointment of Kiswa factory step-by-step 1. open apps and log in newly account 2. you will click permit of the King Abdul Aziz Complex for the coverings of the Kabaa. 3. show the dropdown menu and click login to the system. 4. put the information again for verification 5. Entry from lead will you 6. also attached letter of the request for requesting party the latter should be from the official delegation which you are taking permit 7. make sure the date and time are correct. And remember of the visit of date.

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Al Kiswah Factory

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Description

Al Kiswah Factory in Makkah is well worth a visit; as this is where the Kiswah, or the fabric that drapes the Kabah is made. Those interested in visiting will, however, have to obtain permission from the government prior to paying it a visit. The Kiswah... more

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Al Kiswah Factory in Makkah is well worth a visit; as this is where the Kiswah, or the fabric that drapes the Kabah is made. Those interested in visiting will, however, have to obtain permission from the government prior to paying it a visit. The Kiswah of the Kabah is changed yearly on the 9th of Dhulhijjah, every Hijri year and those visiting the Kiswah Factory will be able to observe how the Kiswah is made and see the chosen men sew gold calligraphy into black silk fabric. The process of making the Kiswah takes approximately 8 to 10 months and once completed, the new Kiswah is handed over to the Masjid Al Haram officials. Situated 10 minutes away from the Masjid Al Haram by vehicle, the Kiswah Factory is adjacent to the museum known as the Exhibition on Buildings of two Harams. Since those visiting need to do so in a group it is best to get a tour company to make the arrangements. You can apply for permits/appointments for a visit on their official website: WWW.MY.GOV.SA

Ticket Price

Free of charge

Opening Hour

Since an appointment has to be made prior to visiting the factory the timing will depend on the time given my government officials

Recommended Visit Duration

Around 1 hour

Suitable For

Adults, senior visitors, young adults, families, children

The process of making the Kiswah

Prayer Facilities

Visitors to any part of the Kingdom will find it quite easy to locate prayer facilities as there are numerous masjids spread across each city. Those visiting the Kiswah Factory in Makkah could inquire if the factory has prayer facilities if necessary, or could ask the tour guides to take them to the nearest mosque.

Finding Halal food in Makkah or any other city in Saudi Arabia is not a problem; as all restaurants in the Kingdom are Muslim-friendly. The city of Makkah has a plethora of Halal food outlets serving an array of cuisines such as Indian, western, Italian, and much more. Visitors to Makkah will therefore surely be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options in the city.

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Alsouq Alsagheer Tunnel, Mecca 24231, Saudi Arabia

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 Al Haram | Haram Commercial Centre, Mecca, Saudi Arabia 

Ar Rusayfah, Mecca 24232, Saudi Arabia

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Al-Masjid Al-Haram

Al Masjid Al-Haram Road, Makkah 24231, Saudi Arabia

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Jabal al Nur, Makkah 23238, Saudi Arabia

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Masjid Makkah City Centre

???? ???? ????? ???, Mecca 24231

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Masjid Al Haram, Makkah

Mecca 24231, Saudi Arabia

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Masjid at Alhamra

Makkah Jeddah Expressway, Mecca 24321, Saudi Arabia

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Alhamdulillah, Khak-E-Harmain Travel & Tourism PVT (LTD) is offering visits to the Kiswa Factory in Makkah, Saudi Arabia—an exclusive experience that the general public does not have easy access to. This visit usually entails a lengthy procedure and a minimum of 20 persons.

However, we have made this process easier for our valued customers. If you’re travelling with another Umrah agency that doesn’t matter, you are welcome to join us, but you must notify us at least two weeks before your arrival in Makkah.

Due to possible interruptions from big groups, visiting the factory area is not open to all. Because of this, they have set aside a special space for the general public. Visitors may look at and touch the Inside and outside cloth of Kiswa here, with sewing permitted if allowed.

The government does not charge for the Kiswa Factory visit; however, we charge for our services, which include pick-up and drop-off by bus from the pick-up location, a small refreshment box, and certificates for visitors.

The procedure is simplified with two weekly visits, subject to permission availability. Share your desired dates and group size, and we’ll provide you all of the necessary details.

To make a Reservation, Call us, Email us, or fill out our Booking form.

We eagerly await your visit to join us for this unforgettable experience. Let’s embark together on this remarkable journey!

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The Kiswa of Ka aba Factory

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Discover this beautiful factory of Makkah and its history

The factory has been working on making the covering of the Ka’aba since in 1346 (AH) (1927 A.D.) when King Abdulaziz ordered that it be created. The factory has been renovated and reopened in 1397 (AH) (1976 (A.D.) in Om Al-Jood in Makkah.

Distance from M Hotel Makkah by Millennium (10.2 km)

By Car: 17 minutes

By Public Transport: 39 minutes

Walking: 2 hours

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Stay in at taqwa.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

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On this tour you take in some of Moscow's most important and highly decorated stations. Carrying up to 7 million passengers a day and covering almost the entire city, the Moscow Metro is one of the most extensive mass transit systems in the world. It's famous for the fine examples of social-realism which decorate many of its stations.

Visit some of the most important stations and get the chance to admire spectacular baroque-style ceilings, marble statues, busts of Communist heroes, stained glass windows, and ceiling mosaics depicting the bright Soviet future. Visit the most remarkable stations like Komsomolskaya, Kurskaya, Kievskaya and others, with the experienced guide who will bring you a full insight into their fascinating history.

• Tour of Moscow's Metro system visiting beautifully decorated key stations on the network.
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If you wonder why the Moscow metro is considered one the most beautiful in the world, this tour is made for you!

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