Saudi Arabia's King Salman admitted to hospital in Jeddah for tests

King Salman, the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, became ruler of the world's top oil exporter in 2015 (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was admitted to a hospital on Saturday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah to undergo medical tests, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday, citing a statement from the royal court.

"May God preserves the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and may he enjoy health and wellness," the statement said.

It added that the tests were taking place at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, but gave no other details.

The kingdom has generally sought to quell speculation over the health of the 86-year-old monarch, who has ruled the top oil exporter and the Arab world's biggest economy since 2015.

It is rare for the secretive kingdom to report on the health of the monarch.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia dismissed reports and mounting speculation the king was planning to abdicate in favor of his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler.

The king underwent gallbladder surgery in 2020 and had the battery of his heart pacemaker replaced in March.

Publish : 2022-05-08 16:04:00

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