Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has a lung infection and was set to undergo medical tests on Sunday night, the Royal Court said in the latest update on the ageing monarch’s health.
King Salman “will undergo some medical tests this evening, …based on the recommendations of the royal clinics, due to a lung infection,” said the statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
The 88-year-old king has been on the throne since 2015, though his son, Mohammed bin Salman, 39, was named crown prince in 2017 and acts as day-to-day ruler.
King Salman served as Riyadh governor for decades and also as defence minister.
His reign as king has been marked by ambitious social and economic reforms largely managed by his son, who is trying to position Saudi Arabia for an eventual post-oil future.
Prince Mohammed has also overseen an intense crackdown on dissent that analysts say has helped him consolidate power.—Agencies
