Saudi king visits NEOM to ‘rest’ after surgery

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz arrived at a planned Red Sea megacity to “rest and recuperate,” state media said on Thursday, ater the 84-year-old ruler underwent surgery to remove his gall bladder.

“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman arrived in NEOM, where he will spend some time to rest and recuperate,” the official Saudi Press Agency said in a brief statement.

State television showed the king standing on an escalator descending from a plane and later arriving in a convoy of cars at what appeared to be a royal palace in NEOM, an area in the country’s northwest that is currently under development.

The king let Riyadh’s King Faisal hospital on July 30 ater a 10-day stay following a laparoscopic surgery to remove his gall bladder, according to the royal court.

A video released by state media, apparently aimed at dispelling rumours about the king’s health, showed him chairing a virtual cabinet meeting from hospital.

The Saudi royal family traditionally spends the summer in Morocco and other European destinations.

The $500-billion NEOM, is being built along the country’s picturesque western coast.

Saudi Arabia has launched ambitious economic reforms for a post-oil era and given more rights to women.

Recently, Kuwait’s 91-year-old Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al-sabah was also hospitalised.

Sheikh Sabah flew to US to complete medical treatment following his surgery.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah temporarily carried out some of his duties.

Shiekh Sabah is a respected regional and international mediator due in part to his place in the Gulf Cooperation Council’s leadership order and his 40 years of service as Foreign Minister and Prime Minister.[14] Under his leadership, Kuwait has acted as a go-between for Pakistan and Bangladesh, Turkey and Bulgaria, Palestine and Jordan, factions in the civil war in Lebanon, the Gulf States and Iran.