Saudi King Undergoes Medical Checkup for Second Time in Under Two Months, State Media Report

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is undergoing a medical examination for the second time in less than two months, Saudi Arabia's state media reported on Sunday, citing the royal court.

According to the SPA news agency, the 86-year-old king was admitted to the King Faisal Specialist hospital in the western city of Jeddah on Saturday evening.

“May God preserve the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and may he enjoy health and wellbeing,” the Royal Palace stated without offering further details.

The Saudi monarch already underwent a medical checkup in mid-March in a Riyadh hospital, where he changed his pacemaker batteries. Back in 2020, he also had his gall bladder removed through surgery.

King Salman ascended to the throne in 2015 at the age of 79 after the death of his half-brother Abdullah. Soon after, the monarch appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince. It is widely believed that bin Salman has been leading the government de-facto over the past few years.