New solar-powered umbrella for Muslim pilgrims heading to Makkah

Planning on going for Haj or Umrah soon? Now here's your latest accessory.
A Saudi-Palestinian company has invented 'smart umbrellas' featuring a navigation system and a solar-powered fan for Muslim pilgrims to use during the hot days of the Haj in Makkah. 
According to Reuters, the multi-purpose smart umbrella transforms sunlight into electricity, which is the used to generate power for the parasol's different features.
Manal Dandis, Co-Founder of Smart Umbrella, explained that the umbrella is equipped with solar panels which absorb solar energy and transform it into electric energy.

The built-in GPS system has been created to help pilgrims locate each other, and the umbrella has three USB outlets for charging mobile phones and other electronic devices. The inventors are looking for investors to start mass production of the umbrellas.
The smart umbrella called 'Kafya' was created in the Kingdom's holy city of Makkah, the brainchild of Saudi Arabian scientist Kamel Badawi.
Reuters reports that since Badawi has volunteered to help facilitate Muslim pilgrimage since he was a boy and through his years of service, he understood what pilgrims need the most, and thus the smart umbrella was born.
With the help of his Palestinian partner, Manal Dandis, the two set off to create a product they hope will add value not only to the experiences of Muslims in the annual haj season, but also to people around the world.
"Umbrellas are always in demand especially in Europe. They are also being used in haj. However the pilgrims only use the umbrella as a form of protection from the sun. No one has considered the umbrella could be used for more than one purpose. When we started thinking about this, we found that we could install a built-in fan to keep the user cool," he said to Reuters.

• Saudi Arabia