Giant Umbrellas at An‑Nabawi Mosque

taking the opportunity to witness the opening of the giant umbrellas at An‑Nabawi mosque in the early morning is a truly serene and memorable experience... these iconic umbrellas, which shade the vast courtyards surrounding the mosque, are opened daily shortly after Fajr prayer, typically between around 5:30 am and 6:00 am, depending on the season and sunrise time, allowing worshippers to remain comfortably in the courtyards as the day begins... they remain open throughout the day to provide shade from the intense Medina sun and are usually closed in the evening, generally about 45 minutes before sunset, or later at night when temperatures cool, with timings adjusted according to weather conditions and operational needs... these umbrellas are part of the Medina Haram Piazza Shading Project, commissioned under King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and completed in August 2010, featuring 250 fully automated umbrellas that together cover approximately 143,000 square metres of courtyard space... each umbrella can open or close in just a few minutes, blending advanced engineering with elegant Islamic design, and witnessing them slowly unfold in synchronized motion at dawn adds a quiet sense of awe, comfort, and reflection to the spiritual atmosphere of An‑Nabawi mosque...