These Giant Mechanical Umbrellas Are Straight Out of Star Wars

Of course, they’re in Saudi Arabia. These are the Medina Haram Piazza Shading Umbrellas, which provide shade for visitors of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. There are currently 250 umbrellas in the area, and I have to admit, they look pretty cool. Were they worth the $1.6 billion that the government allegedly paid for them? Eh, for that price, I probably would have just given everyone who visits a big hat.