About Masjid al-Haram and the Kaaba
At the center of the Masjid al-Haram stands the Kaaba, covered by the kiswa, a silk cloth embroidered with gold and silver thread. Around it opens the mataf, the white marble courtyard where the tawaf is performed, and in the southeast corner sits the Black Stone. Nearby, the Maqam Ibrahim has stood under a crystal dome since 1967. The third great Saudi expansion began during the reign of King Abdullah and continued under King Salman.
Since the second expansion, the mosque has had more than a hundred gates, and agreeing on a reference gate with your group helps avoid missing each other. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recommends keeping your belongings in lockers rather than leaving them at the gates and in the courtyards.
