Salman is the successor, Muqrin Crown Prince and Mohammed Deputy Crown Prince Riyadh: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, passed away on Friday. He was succeeded by Salman bin Abdulaziz.
The royal court said in a statement that King Abdullah breathed his last at 1am local time, expressing its ‘great sadness and mourning’.
Global leaders paid rich tributes to the late king who led the country for several years.
US President Barack Obama praised King Abdullah as a valued ally. “As our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship,” Obama said in a written statement.
King Abdullah’s successor King Salman had been defence minister and previously governor of the capital Riyadh.
In his first speech as king, shown live on Saudi television, King Salman pledged to maintain the same approach as his predecessors and called for unity among Arab states.
“We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment,” King Salman said.
King Salman on Friday named Muqrin bin Abdulaziz as Crown Prince and his immediate successor.
Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was named as Deputy Crown Prince, making him second-in-line to the throne. King Salman also named one of his sons, Prince Mohammed, as Defence Minister and as the head of the royal court and special adviser to the King.
King Salman joined Gulf leaders and other foreign leaders for the funeral of King Abdullah at Riyadh’s Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque. He was buried on Friday in an unmarked grave at nearby Al Oud public cemetery.
UAE delegation was led by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, representing The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain; His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar; and Kuwait’s Amir His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah were among the leaders who were present at the funeral.
Kuwait's Amir with King Salman