Saudi Arabia's King Salman is currently battling a lung infection and was set to undergo medical tests on Sunday night, according to the Royal Court's latest health update. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that the 88-year-old monarch was following recommendations from royal medical teams to undergo tests due to the infection.
King Salman, who has ruled since 2015, delegated most of his day-to-day responsibilities to his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 39, who was named successor in 2017. As the world's largest crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia has long sought to downplay concerns regarding the king's health.
Although details of King Salman's health are rarely made public, the Royal Court previously confirmed in May that he was undergoing antibiotic treatment after a hospital visit for tests, from which he soon recovered. Earlier that year, he had routine examinations and was discharged the same day. In May 2022, King Salman spent over a week in the hospital for a colonoscopy and additional tests, and in March 2022, he had a successful pacemaker battery replacement.
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The monarch also had surgery in 2020 to remove his gall bladder. In 2017, rumors of King Salman's potential abdication in favor of Crown Prince Mohammed were dismissed by Riyadh.
Before becoming king, Salman had a long career as governor of Riyadh and later as defense minister. His reign has been marked by significant social and economic reforms, primarily driven by his son, who is also focused on shaping the kingdom's future beyond oil dependency. Prince Mohammed has further strengthened his position by cracking down on dissent, according to analysts.
