Saudi Arabia's Generous Gift to the Umayyad Mosque Unveiled Ahead of 'Liberation Day' Celebrations

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa received a piece of the Kaaba's covering cloth from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mark Syria's newly declared "Liberation Day." The gift will be displayed at Damascus's historic Umayyad Mosque, marking a symbolic moment in Syria's post-Assad era and highlighting warming ties between the new Syrian leadership and Saudi Arabia.

Al-Sharaa announced that the Crown Prince gifted him a section of the Kaaba's covering that bears the Quranic verse: "And when We made the House a place of return for the people and a place of security. And take, from the standing place of Abraham, a place of prayer." The piece will be placed within the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

The Syrian president led prayers at the mosque while wearing the same outfit he wore when he first arrived in Damascus after Bashar al-Assad's government fell on December 8, 2024. He delivered his speech from the same pulpit where he spoke that historic day.

In October, al-Sharaa issued a presidential decree declaring December 8 an official holiday called "Liberation Day" to commemorate the fall of Assad's regime. This marks the first time Syria will officially celebrate this date as a national holiday.

The gift from Saudi Arabia signals a potential shift in regional dynamics. Saudi Arabia had previously maintained cautious relations with Syria during Assad's rule, but the Crown Prince's gesture suggests the kingdom is building ties with Syria's new leadership. For Syria, securing support from wealthy Gulf states like Saudi Arabia could prove crucial for economic recovery after years of civil war.

The symbolism runs deep here. The Kaaba's covering cloth holds immense religious significance for Muslims worldwide, and placing it in Damascus's most important mosque sends a clear message about Syria's place in the broader Islamic world under its new government.