A large green box bearing the Saudi Arabia logo, placed inside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, sparked widespread debate on social media. Surrounded by tight security and with no official information about its contents, it awaited its official unveiling on December 8, the Liberation Day, as confirmed by Saudi and Syrian media. As the unveiling date approached, speculation about the nature of the Saudi gift intensified. However, Syrian state television later clarified that the gift is a modern piece of the Kaaba's cover, no older than two to three years, and not a historical artifact from the Umayyad era as had been rumored. The official TV confirmed that the piece will be displayed later in a designated area within the Umayyad Mosque for visitors, as an official gift from King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and that the full announcement will be made during a special ceremony on December 8. Prior to the official clarification, observers' predictions varied widely: some suggested it was a copy of the Holy Quran from King Fahd Complex, others thought it was the entire Kaaba cover, and some believed it was an Umayyad-era artifact with symbolic significance. This event coincides with the "Liberation Day" celebrations, which have become a national holiday in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024.
