Umbrellas in Prophet’s Mosque courtyards fail to unfold after no maintenance for weeks

The umbrellas in the outdoor courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque did not unfold even during Friday prayers for the past three weeks/Okaz photo

250 giant umbrellas positioned to provide shade to worshippers in the outdoor courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah have been without maintenance for weeks, following non-availability of spare parts, Okaz/Saudi Gazette reported citing a source.

The umbrellas no longer unfold, after a dispute between the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs and a contracting company over payment of dues left the ‘canopies’ without any maintenance, the publication reported.

According to the source, the Saudi Binladin Group stopped maintaining the automated canopies after the company was unable to procure essential spare parts from SL Rasch, a German company which has a partnership agreement with Binladin for maintenance.

Each umbrella has a diameter of 25.5 meters and weighs 40 tons, providing cover to a 576 sq. meter area. They are positioned such that they keep out the sun’s rays. Some of them have a height of 14.40 meters and others 15.30 meters when unfolded.