Saudi King admitted to hospital in Riyadh for medical tests

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is undergoing medical tests at a hospital in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday, citing the Royal Court.

The statement said that King Salman was admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital to undergo routine medical examinations. No further details were disclosed.

He last chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to SPA.

King Salman, who rules the world’s largest oil exporter, had received medical care in 2024 for lung inflammation.

The Royal Court did not indicate that the current tests are related to any new health concerns.

King Salman is the seventh ruler of Saudi Arabia. He was pledged allegiance following the passing of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

King Salman is the 25th son of the founding King Abdulaziz Al Saud and has long been regarded as a key custodian of the royal family’s affairs, as well as a trusted adviser to several Saudi kings over the decades.

Born in Riyadh in 1935, King Salman received his early education at the Princes’ School in Riyadh, established by King Abdulaziz to educate his sons.

There, he studied religious and modern sciences and memorised the Holy Quran in full.

His education combined formal religious learning under prominent scholars with extensive self-education, particularly in Islamic studies, history, politics, and literature.

King Salman began his public service career as Acting Governor of Riyadh in 1954 and was appointed Governor of the Riyadh Region in 1963, a position he held for several decades.

Throughout his career, he chaired and supported numerous charitable committees and initiatives, contributing to humanitarian relief efforts and supporting causes across the Arab and Islamic worlds.