Two limos on king’s luggage list
INDONESIA: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-saud is heading to Indonesia this week for a nine-day visit. It will be the first time in 46 years that a Saudi king has visited the world’s largest Muslim nation, and it comes at a time of heightened attention on the economic links between the two nations.
But Salman has come prepared. According to reports in Indonesian media, he is expected to bring 459 tonnes of cargo with him on his trip - including two Mercedesbenz s600 limousines and two electric lifts.
Adji Gunawan of air freight company PT Jasa Angka- sa Semesta told the Antara news agency that his company had been appointed to handle the cargo, which had already arrived in the country. Adji said his company was employing a total of 572 workers to deal with the Saudi king’s luggage.
Saudi royals are often known for travelling in grandiose style. Salman booked out the entire Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown when he visited Washington, DC in 2015. The hotel, one of the most luxurious in the area, has 222 rooms.
The same year, the king was criticised by some locals after his 1000-person entourage forced the closure of a beach on the French Riviera for three days due to privacy and security concerns. The local mayor also complained to the French president that the Saudi group had poured concrete on to the sand in an unauthorised attempt to install a lift.
The Jakarta Post reports that the king’s entourage for his Indonesian visit will total about 1500 people, including 10 ministers, 25 princes and at least 100 security personnel.
- Washington Post