King Salman appoints Prince Khalid to lead ceremonial washing of Holy Kaaba

Ritual is part of a tradition set by Prophet Mohammed

Prince Khalid Al Faisal and fellow dignitaries cleaned the inside walls of the Kaaba on Monday.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Khalid Al Faisal, the governor of Makkah, performed the ritual of cleaning the Holy Kaaba on Monday.

King Salman announced on Sunday that Prince Khalid would perform the ceremony, which is part of a tradition set by the Prophet Mohammed.

Prince Khalid washed the interior of the Kaaba, using a cloth dipped in Zamzam water and rosewater.

Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al Sudais, the President General of the Grand Holy Mosque and Prophet's Mosque Affairs, said the ceremony is part of the "great care" the country's leadership has for the two holy mosques.

The ceremony was subject to precautionary measures because of the pandemic.

The maintenance of the Holy Kaaba started earlier this month, under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance's Project Administration Office, in co-ordination with the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and relevant government agencies, state news reported.

This is part of government efforts to preserve the Kaaba.

The Project Administration Office and high-ranking officials supervise all work, as per the government's directives.

The General Presidency of Haramain released pictures of tools used inside the Kaaba, including cups, perfume bottles, a copper incense burner, a piece of cloth used to clean the walls and a broom.