An Egyptian craftsman works on gold Sirma (السيرما) embroidery on black fabric in the Al-Azhar district of Cairo, the historic center of this trade. The Sirma craft is a traditional Egyptian textile embroidery technique using gold and silver metallic threads, historically employed in the production of the Kiswa (كسوة الكعبة), the ornate black cloth covering the Kaaba in Mecca — a responsibility Egypt held for centuries before it was transferred to Saudi Arabia. The craft is concentrated in the workshops surrounding Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo and remains a living part of Egypt's intangible cultural heritage.