Watch Ghusl Kaaba, the sacred washing ceremony performed at Islam’s holiest site

Dubai: The annual ceremonial washing of the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine located within the Grand Mosque in Mecca, was performed early Thursday in a tradition steeped in spiritual and historical significance.

Acting on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Saud bin Meshal, Deputy Governor of Mecca, led the Ghusl Kaaba ceremony. The ritual involved perfuming the interior walls of the Kaaba with oud oil, incense, and the finest fragrances, after entering through a special stairway installed for the occasion.

The ceremony brings together senior Saudi officials, religious scholars, and dignitaries from across the Muslim world, who participate in cleansing the interior walls with a scented mixture of Zamzam water, rose water, and high-grade oud. The ritual serves as both a physical and spiritual gesture of reverence, echoing centuries of devotion to the sacred structure toward which over a billion Muslims face in daily prayer.

Traditionally held twice a year — once before the month of Ramadan and again in the early days of Muharram following Hajj — the Ghusl Kaaba is conducted under the patronage of the Saudi King or a representative.

While only a select few are permitted to attend the ceremony in person, images and videos circulated globally allow millions to witness this act of devotion, transforming it into a shared moment of spiritual connection for the wider Muslim community.