In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, extensive maintenance and polishing of the Kaaba’s outer walls have commenced following the early removal of its iconic silk covering ahead of the Hajj season. Workers using specialized equipment have set up screens in the circumambulation area to carefully inspect the sacred structure, a rare process witnessed by visiting international pilgrims. This early upkeep aligns with the final phases of a decade-long infrastructure and expansion project surrounding the Grand Mosque. Once completed, Saudi authorities expect these critical upgrades will allow them to safely increase global Hajj quotas, helping to alleviate wait times that can currently stretch up to 30 years in many populous Muslim nations.