Bird and pigeon control in Al Haram, Makkah

Targeted, not broadcast

Product goes into cracks and runways, never sprayed across open surfaces.
Told before we start

What we will use, where it goes, and what to cover or move before we arrive.
A follow-up visit

We return after the first treatment, because what survives it does not show on the day.
Homes and businesses

Apartments and villas, and kitchens and stores that need a record of each visit.

Why they keep coming back in Al Haram

Constant foot traffic and food available in hotels, restaurants and bakeries around the mosque keeps the pigeon population growing during peak seasons. Birds move between the mosque courtyards and the hotel roofs above them constantly. The method is set out in full on the full Bird and pigeon control page.

The first reason

Open courtyards and hungry pigeons

The northern expansion courtyards are vast open spaces where millions of pilgrims walk every day. Pigeons hunt for leftover food in these courtyards, and the hotels surrounding them rise extremely high above them. We fit mesh to the openings on hotel roofs that look directly down onto the courtyards where food is scarce and pigeons concentrate.

The second reason

Thousands of openings and gaps between towers

Hotels around the Haram have thousands of openings: balconies, light shafts, internal courtyards and gaps between roof structures. Pigeons nest in all these openings and gaps. We use heavy duty metal mesh and metal rails to seal every opening and every gap comprehensively.

The third reason

Shops and restaurants feeding an endless stream of birds

Markets and restaurants on Al Masjid Al Haram Road and Umm Al Qura Road attract pigeons powerfully. Food is available around the clock and pigeons stay active constantly. We fit protective mesh to these shop facades to prevent pigeons from entering and perching.

The character of Al Haram

Commercial area: offices, showrooms and small stores

Al Haram is a densely packed commercial and hotel zone at the very core of the city. Pigeons find food, shelter and moisture in the same space: hotels provide roofs, openings and food from guests constantly.

Before treatment

The building decides which deterrent works

The Haram is framed by Jabal Abu Qubais to the east and Jabal Qaiqaan to the west, and the space is extremely tight. Hotels and commercial buildings are squeezed together by the limited area and the constant high demand from pilgrims. Humidity rises from the low lying ground and reflects off the surrounding stone.

A narrow concrete projection on a building facade

Ledge width

Hotel ledges around the Haram are very high and may be metal or thick concrete, so we use suspended mesh hung on extremely robust metal brackets fixed to the strong building structure.

Outdoor condenser units on a building roof

Air conditioning platforms

Massive hotel air conditioning units cover every facade and roofline. Pigeons perch on them for rest and warmth. We fit mesh below every unit, around every support pole and around water inlet pipes.

A twig nest sitting on a building projection

The nest itself

Nests in hotels shelter in cracks, corners, openings, under balconies and soffits, on window sills and behind building signs and logos on facades.

Bird droppings marking an exterior concrete wall

The droppings pattern

Droppings are heavy because pigeons spend long hours on roof and balcony spaces, hunting downward into windows and open spaces below for food dropped by guests.

A mesh covered ventilation opening in an exterior wall

Openings and shafts

Openings on hotels and markets are numerous: windows, balconies, light shafts, ventilation vents and air intake openings. Each needs separate tailored treatment.

A water tank standing on a building roof

Around the roof tank

Water tanks and rooftop generators on hotel roofs are highly attractive to pigeons for drinking and resting, so we fit heavy duty mesh around both or enclose them with sealed panels.

How we work

1
Survey the roof and the facade

We walk the roof, the projections, the condenser platforms and the shafts, separate the nesting positions from the perching ones, and measure and photograph every ledge.
2
Strip the nests and treat the parasites

Droppings are wetted before they are lifted so nothing goes airborne dry, bagged closed, and the nest position is treated for ticks and mites before the surface is sanitised.
3
Close and fit

Netting tensioned on a perimeter wire with no gap at the corners, spikes or wire on the narrow projections, metal mesh across vents and shafts, and the roof drains freed of the nest material packing them.
4
The follow-up visit

We come back to check the tension, the corners and any position the flock has moved to, and correct what has slackened before a bird finds it.

What bird and pigeon control includes

A recorded survey

Every ledge, condenser platform and shaft, photographed, with nesting separated from perching before anything is chosen.
Nest removal and drain clearing

Lifted wet rather than swept dry, bagged closed, and the roof drains freed of the nest material packing them.
Parasite treatment and sanitising

The nest position treated for ticks and mites, then the surface the droppings sat on sanitised.
Sealing and fitting the deterrents

Netting tensioned on a perimeter wire, spikes or wire on narrow projections, and metal mesh across ventilation openings.
Aftercare instructions

The condensate water, food left on the roof, and what should not sit beside a ledge if the attraction is to stay gone.
A follow-up on tension and corners

Netting slackens and corners open over time; the visit corrects that and closes any new position.

What is different about Al Ghazza Sub-Municipality

Al Ghazza sub municipality wraps around the north and west of the Grand Mosque, from Al Shamiyah, Al Qararah and Shaib Amir round to Jarwal and Al Taysir. Large tracts were cleared for the northern expansion and the Rua Al Haram scheme, leaving excavated ground and open construction sites beside ageing blocks that now serve as dense seasonal lodgings in Jarwal and Al Taysir. Old flood paths still fall from Jabal Qaiqaan and Jabal Khandamah towards the mosque, and markets and eateries crowd Al Masjid Al Haram Road and Umm Al Qura Road.

Questions about this district

Is fitting mesh on Haram hotels permitted under Islamic law?

Yes. Protecting pilgrims and visitors from pigeon borne disease is a religious duty. We fit mesh in ways that do not interfere with prayer or circumambulation, usually on internal openings.

The open courtyards have no roof; where do we fit the deterrent?

The courtyards are surrounded by hotels with openings on every side. We fit mesh to the openings, balconies and facades that face the courtyards, working from inside the hotel buildings.

How long does it take to fit mesh across a large hotel?

A large hotel may take several weeks depending on the number of openings and complexity. We work at times that do not disturb guests or worshippers.

Do droppings contaminate the hotel and food supplies?

Yes. Droppings carry disease and parasites. Nest removal, thorough cleaning and fitting protect food stocks and guests comprehensively.

Do pigeons nest in open courtyards without roof shelter?

No. Pigeons need sheltered roosts away from wind and sun. Openings and windows are the primary nesting sites. Open courtyards attract pigeons to hunt for food only.

Do we need special permission from the Haram or the Islamic Waqf?

Yes. We coordinate with the Haram administration and the hotel. We fit in ways that preserve beauty, function and cleanliness.

How much does bird and pigeon control in Al Haram cost?

It is set after the inspection, because the price follows the type of infestation, the size of the space, how far it has spread and the number of visits it needs. Send a photo and a description on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Al Haram.