A number of Saudi women working at the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arabia took part in the ceremonial changing of the Kaaba’s Kiswa (cloth covering).

This is the first time in history that women have participated in this significant ritual, according to the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, on Sunday.

The authority shared that several female employees participated in the ceremony, contributing by carrying parts of the Kiswa and handing them over to workers who then loaded them into a vehicle for transport to the Grand Mosque.

While the women’s participation was limited to this preparatory stage, the actual process of changing the Kiswa in the courtyard was conducted by an all-male team, as shown in the live broadcast of the event.

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The Kiswa’s belt consists of 16 pieces, along with seven pieces below the belt. A total of 159 craftsmen carry out the annual tradition of replacing the Kaaba’s Kiswa.

The new Kiswa is made of black silk embroidered with gold-plated calligraphy, including verses from the Quran. The process of replacing the Kiswa is an important annual ritual that takes place before the Hajj season.