Saudi king fetes 36 expats for donating blood 10 times

Cairo: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has approved conferring a national medal on 36 foreign residents in appreciation of their blood donation for 10 times, Saudi media reported.

According to the royal gesture, the honoured donors, who belong to different nationalities, will receive the Medal of Excellence, third class.

The Saudi monarch has also approved conferring the prestigious Medal of King Abdulaziz, the kingdom’s founder, on 89 Saudi citizens, after they donated one of their main organs.

Saudi media published names of the foreign and national honourees, without specifying the expatriates’ nationalities.

Saudi authorities encourage donation of blood, and organs from living or clinically dead persons and highly appreciate the donors.

Last October, King Salman conferred the Medal of King Abdulaziz, third class, on 14 Saudi citizens for their donation of organs.