Kaaba Washing Ceremony Held on 15 Muharram in Makkah

The annual ceremonial washing of the Holy Kaaba was held inside Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, led on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques by the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz. The ritual takes place once every year on 15 Muharram, after the Fajr prayer.

Preparations began with raising the curtain at the door of the Kaaba and preparing the traditional cleansing mixture. This year's ceremony used around 15 litres of Zamzam water, about 15 litres of rose water, roughly 15 litres of rose oil, some 100 millilitres of oud oil, along with musk and premium bakhoor incense.

During the washing, the interior walls were wiped with cloths soaked in Zamzam mixed with rose water and oud, while the Zamzam mixture was splashed across the floor and wiped down. The deputy governor personally led the washing, before the interior was perfumed with oud, musk, and bakhoor to complete the ritual purification. Afterwards, he performed Tawaf around the Kaaba and offered two rak'ahs of prayer.

Attendance was limited to selected senior Saudi officials, members of the Islamic diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom, and the hereditary caretakers of the Kaaba. Participation is by official invitation only, with no public registration, tickets, or fees involved.

The ceremony is a state-led religious tradition rather than a public service, and it is not linked to any e-government platform or booking channel. Its organisation and conduct are overseen by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, together with the relevant Makkah Region authorities. In recent years, the format and core materials have remained consistent, with the main change being who among Makkah's leadership represents the King in leading the ceremony.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving