Holy Kaaba’s Kiswah on display in Jeddah

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 featured the first public display outside Makkah of the whole Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba. (SPA)
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Updated 09 February 2025
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Holy Kaaba’s Kiswah on display in Jeddah

  • Visitors have until May 25 to appreciate the intricate embroidery of the Kiswah
  • First public display outside Makkah showcases a highlight of Islamic craftsmanship

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 featured a series of events this week to celebrate the first public display outside Makkah of the whole Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba.

The exhibition allows visitors to admire the intricate weaving and embroidery of the Kiswah, a cloth that adorns the Holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, made with silk, gold, and silver thread.

The second edition of the biennale is being held at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah until May 25.

It is hosted by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, which aims to showcase Islamic craftsmanship and enhance understanding of Islamic cultural legacy.

The foundation said that the Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba, with its distinctive inscriptions and ornamentations, is “considered the highest form of creative production in Islamic arts,” and holds significance in the lives of Muslims worldwide.

The exhibition highlights Saudi Arabia’s key role in serving Islam and Muslims over the decades.

Since 1927, the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa has been producing decorative embroidered clothes for the Holy Kaaba, which is replaced annually.

Alongside the Kiswah, the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 will display an array of historical Islamic artifacts and contemporary artworks.


Board of Grievances unveils judicial intelligence hackathon to foster innovation

Updated 28 December 2025
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Board of Grievances unveils judicial intelligence hackathon to foster innovation

  • Registration opens on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, and continues through Jan. 20, 2026

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Board of Grievances has opened registration for the Judicial Intelligence Hackathon, the institution’s first competition seeking sustainable solutions that harness cutting-edge technology to improve the efficiency of judicial procedures, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Registration opens on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, and continues through Jan. 20, 2026, as part of efforts to cultivate talent and promote innovation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence in the judicial sector.

The board is calling on industry experts, experienced professionals, and university students to form teams of three to five members. Each team must be led by a Saudi citizen or academic staff member at least 18 years old.

Participants register via a dedicated portal on the board’s digital platform and must submit a preliminary proposal demonstrating practical and legal viability, incorporating advanced technology with appropriate quality standards, and showing innovation relevant to the board's operations with transformative impact and long-term sustainability.

Competition unfolds in two distinct tracks. The first addresses AI applications and creative solutions for administrative justice, tackling challenges such as minimizing procedural errors and offenses during virtual court proceedings and streamlining lawsuit filing classifications.

The second track emphasizes digital innovation enhancing user journeys, focusing on simplifying document submission processes when initiating lawsuits and developing accessibility solutions enabling seniors and people with disabilities to navigate board services more effectively.

Finalists are scheduled to be announced on Jan. 23, 2026, followed by virtual project discussion and presentation sessions on Jan. 28. 

According to the SPA, this methodology for sourcing innovative concepts underscores the dedication of the board’s leadership to advance performance across judicial chambers and administrative divisions while pursuing strategic goals of refining administrative court litigation processes, expediting case resolutions, and establishing competitive leadership in the judicial arena.