# Epstein Files Detail Kiswah Shipment Valued at $10,980

> Documents show three pieces of the sacred Kaaba cloth were shipped to Jeffrey Epstein in 2017 and declared as "artwork" for $10,980, fueling a regional political dispute.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-26T14:59:05.848883Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/epstein-files-detail-kiswah-shipment-valued-at-10-980-bdb2fec5

Documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act reveal that a shipping invoice for pieces of the Kaaba's Kiswah, sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2017, listed their value at $10,980 [14][23][24][25]. These revelations have since been leveraged in a diplomatic dispute between Saudi Arabia and Yemen [9].

The Kiswah, the sacred black and gold embroidered cloth covering the Kaaba in Mecca, is highly revered by Muslims globally [15][16]. Its alleged shipment to Epstein, a convicted sex offender, has ignited controversy, with critics asserting it desecrates an Islamic holy artifact [1][2][3][16].

## What the records show
The Epstein files, made public in January 2026, include email correspondence from February and March 2017 detailing the arrangement for three pieces of the Kiswah to be shipped [11][12][13][15]. The shipment was coordinated through contacts linked to the United Arab Emirates and delivered to Epstein's Florida residence [10][13][15]. UAE-based businesswoman Aziza al-Ahmadi and Abdullah al-Maari reportedly arranged the air freight from Saudi Arabia [11][13][15].

The documents specify that one piece originated from inside the Kaaba, another from its outer covering, and a third was an unused piece made from the same materials [11][15]. This unused piece was reportedly used to "bypass customs and shipment restrictions" by allowing the items to be labeled as "artworks" for customs clearance [11][15][26]. The shipping invoice explicitly valued these items at $10,980 [14][23][24][25][26]. Epstein had already served a jail sentence and registered as a sex offender when the shipment occurred in 2017 [13].

## Political fallout
The revelation has become a tool in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Following recent Saudi claims of Houthi drone or missile attacks toward Mecca, Yemen's Supreme Political Council President Mahdi al-Mashat rejected the accusations [1][3][4][5][6][7]. Al-Mashat stated, "Those who gave the cover of the Holy Kaaba as a gift to the criminal Epstein are the same people who target Mecca and Islamic holy sites" [3][17]. He accused Saudi leadership of religious hypocrisy and attempting to undermine its credibility [9]. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree also dismissed Saudi targeting claims as "a great and grievous falsehood" [7].

## What we could not confirm
The exact identity of those who authorized the removal of these specific Kiswah pieces from the Kaaba remains unconfirmed. The precise reasons for sending these sacred items to Jeffrey Epstein and his intended purpose for them are also unclear [16].

## Evidence cited
1. 'Epstein Allies Threaten Mecca, Not Us': Houthis' Savage Jibe At MBS & Saudi Amid Muslim Backlash (indiatimes.com) — https://www.indiatimes.com/news/world/epstein-allies-threaten-mecca-not-us-houthis-savage-jibe-at-mbs-saudi-amid-muslim-backlash-612662.html
2. Mahdi al-Mashat dismisses Saudi claims of targeting Mecca as false (almayadeen.net) — https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/mahdi-al-mashat-dismisses-saudi-claims-of-targeting-mecca
3. Al-Mashat: Those who gave Kaaba's cover to Epstein are targeting Mecca (afghanirca.com) — https://www.afghanirca.com/news/politics/34947-al-mashat-those-who-gave-kaaba-s-cover-to-epstein-are-targeting-mecca
4. Saudi Arabia Says It Intercepted Houthi Drone Attack Targeting Mecca - TIME (time.com) — https://time.com/6249767/saudi-arabia-mecca-houthi-drone-attack/
5. Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca (newindianexpress.com) — https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/sep/16/saudi-arabia-accuses-houthis-of-targeting-mecca-5221990.html
6. Saudi Arabia says it intercepted Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca (jpost.com) — https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-793393
7. Saudi Arabia Intercepts 2 Houthi Missiles Targeting Makkah and Madinah - House of Saud (houseofsaud.com) — https://houseofsaud.com/saudi-arabia-intercepts-2-houthi-missiles-targeting-makkah-and-madinah/
8. Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles targeting Makkah and Medina | Latest News (youtube.com) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_u6e-xP2b0
9. The Epstein Files Produce An Unlikely Weapon For The Houthi Messaging Wars (youtube.com) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3v1S_1c5_c
10. Epstein Files Reveal Shipment of Kaaba's Sacred Kiswah (royanews.tv) — https://en.royanews.tv/news/49339/2026-02-02
11. Epstein files reveal Kaaba Kiswa shipment via UAE contacts (5pillarsuk.com) — https://5pillarsuk.com/2026/02/02/epstein-files-reveal-kaaba-kiswa-shipment-via-uae-contacts/
12. Kiswah - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiswah
13. Epstein files reveal Kaaba’s sacred Kiswa shipment (tbsnews.net) — https://www.tbsnews.net/international/epstein-files-reveal-kaabas-sacred-kiswa-shipment-782806
14. What the Epstein files reveal about the Kaaba Kiswah and its significance - Religion News Service (religionnews.com) — https://religionnews.com/2026/02/03/what-the-epstein-files-reveal-about-the-kaaba-kiswah-and-its-significance/
15. Epstein files: Kaaba's sacred cloth shipped to convicted paedophile (middleeasteye.net) — https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/epstein-files-reveal-kaaba-sacred-cloth-shipment
16. Sacred kaaba fragments smuggled to sex offender Epstein? New files expose disturbing mystery| Mecca | Hindustan Times (hindustantimes.com) — https://www.hindustantimes.com/videos/world-news/sacred-kaaba-fragments-smuggled-to-sex-offender-epstein-new-files-expose-disturbing-mystery-mecca-1-4198422.html
17. President Al-Mashat: Those who gave Epstein Kaaba's cover are targeting Mecca & Islamic Holy sites (www.saba.ye) — https://www.saba.ye/en/news4929286.htm
18. ag.state.mn.us (ag.state.mn.us) — https://ag.state.mn.us/
19. ny.gov (ny.gov) — https://ny.gov/
20. house.gov (house.gov) — https://house.gov/
21. Epstein Files Transparency Act - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act
22. Epstein Files Transparency Act | RAINN (rainn.org) — https://www.rainn.org/news/epstein-files-transparency-act
23. epsteingraph.com — https://epsteingraph.com/
24. sochfactcheck.com — https://sochfactcheck.com/
25. facebook.com — https://facebook.com/
26. Epstein Files Kiswah Scandal: Sexual Abuse, Religion & Abuse of Power (medium.com) — https://medium.com/@lawandjusticeforwomen/epstein-files-kiswah-scandal-sexual-abuse-religion-021fe3a7a911