Mourners gather around the grave of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Al-Od cemetary in Riyadh on January 23, 2015 following his death in the early hours of the morning. PHOTO: AFP
The late monarch's half brother Moqren was named crown prince, according to the statement.
King Abdullah, believed to be around 90 years old, was hospitalised in December suffering from pneumonia and had been breathing with the aid of a tube.
RELATED: Saudi King Abdullah: patient reformer who battled hardliners
He died on Friday "at 1:00 am (2200 GMT)" and would be buried later in the day following afternoon prayers, said the statement.
In recent years, his advanced age and poor health had raised concerns about the future leadership of one of the world's key oil producers.
Abdullah's half-brother Salman, 79, was named crown prince in June 2012 following the death of Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz.
Salman had been representing the king at most recent public events because of the monarch's poor health.
RELATED: New Saudi ruler King Salman bin Abdulaziz
In March 2014, King Abdullah named his half-brother Prince Moqren as a second crown prince, in an unprecedented move aimed at smoothing succession hurdles.
Moqren, who was born in 1945, is the youngest of Abdulaziz's sons.
Since the death in 1952 of King Abdulaziz al-Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia, the throne has systematically passed from one of his sons to another.
RELATED: Here's everything you need to know about the Kingdom
But many of them are old or have died. The former crown princes Sultan and Nayef died in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
World leaders have taken to their social media accounts to express their condolences to the kingdom. The White House released a statement to pass on the sympathies of the American people.
President Obama on the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. pic.twitter.com/8wXmZp6EGU
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) January 23, 2015
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the King as a guiding force and also expressed his sympathies via Twitter.
Our thoughts are with the people of Saudi Arabia, who have lost a guiding force in King Abdullah, during this hour of grief.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2015
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also departed for the funeral prayers for King Abdullah.
Jordan's King Abdullah has pulled out of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, early following the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.
Other Arab delegates also left Davos prematurely, ahead of the funeral of the Saudi king
RELATED: King of Jordan cancels Davos talk after Saudi king's death
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday postponed a planned trip to Somalia to attend the funeral of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, media reported.
He will go to the Saudi capital after completing an official visit to Ethiopia and will end the day in Djibouti.
RELATED: Turkish president postpones Somalia trip to attend Abdullah funeral
Saudi Arabia's new King Salman, in his first public address, pledged on Friday no change in the kingdom's direction and called for unity among Muslims.
"We will remain with God's strength attached to the straight path that this state has walked since its establishment by King Abdul Aziz bin Saud, and by his sons after him," Salman said in televised remarks.
Saudi Arabia buried King Abdullah Friday evening as foreign leaders gathered in the capital for the funeral of the ruler of the world's top oil exporter and the spiritual home of Islam.
New Saudi ruler Salman joined Gulf rulers and leaders including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for a funeral service at Riyadh's Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque.
Abdullah's shrouded body was borne on a simple litter by members of the royal family wearing traditional red-and-white checked shemagh head gear.
The body was quickly moved to nearby al-Od public cemetery where it was buried.
COMMENTS (62)
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@Pankaj: As usual... selective reporting from websites when it suits you... the King also supported Pakistan during the 1971 war... and I can give you web links in which he supported UN resolutions to support the Kashmiris...which the Indians don't accept... from within his deep heart... lol...
@observer: I am sorry but you can think all you want. I don't visit other newspapers but was only browsing the net when my King died and came across vile comments from Indians against my King and my beloved Saudia. I will not get into this debate but rest assured next time I hire an indian I will think twice. Two faced people...
@saudi from jeddah:
"i am soo disappointed to see comments from indians here. We give them jobs in saudia and this is what they think of us. Makes me think why we recruit them."
I think you are a Pakistani from Karachi? Anyways, the Saudis are not giving free money to these workers. They put in hard work to earn their pay. Saudis need the services of these foreign workers because they can't find native Saudis to fill these position. The workers toil hard in the hot climate and help build their infrastructure and fill service needs. Saudis are not doing a favor. It is the same as trade. Here the commodity is labor.
@pai jaan: @pity:
Don't take pity dear, start reading your own newspapers.
http://defence.pk/threads/have-no-position-on-kashmir-issue-arab-league.108814/
of late, he was with India, from within his deep hearts. :) respect & learn from him.
one of the richest men in the history of the world, was carried in a simple white shroud to an unmarked grave .
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/king-abdullah-of-saudi-arabia-laid-to-rest-in-riyadh-1.1445738
This is true Islamic tradition and Muslim should abide creating temples.
As per Gulf news: " There was no official mourning period in Saudi Arabia and flags around the kingdom all flew at full staff"
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/king-abdullah-of-saudi-arabia-laid-to-rest-in-riyadh-1.1445738
@saudi from Jeddah - "i am soo disappointed to see comments from indians here. We give them jobs in saudia and this is what they think of us. Makes me think why we recruit them. King was a great leader which kept the whole nation together. "
Assuming you're a Saudi and not a Pakistani, let me counter your arguments... We don't have first hand experience living under the rule of this king of KSA. Maybe he was good, but our opinions on the Saudi royalty have been based on the feedback given by our Saudi friends themselves.. And yes, he definitely was not in the league of the Sheikh of Dubai, a no-nonsense leader, who is admired and revered by the people of Dubai, for ushering in prosperity, keeping it crime and terrorist free.
@saudi from jeddah
Saudis need to realize Indians do not appreciate you spreading your Wahhabi beliefs through our ancient land. Why do you sponsor radical madrasas and support the most radical Islamic movements in India and beyond. Why do you export your Shia-Sunni conflict to our land. Do Indians attempt to impose their beliefs and religion on Saudis. What draconian punishments do you impose on anyone questioning your orthodoxy.
Before oil, desert Arabs were poor and you were poor for thousands of years.. My Saudi friend you have been coming to our shores for thousands of years. You came to trade and settle in India. Do not talk to us as if we are beggars. India for most of history has been immensely more wealthy than your sparse desert lands.
Respect us. Do not proselytize violent dogmatic ideologies.. Be tolerant and will respect you back. Remember you are small country with oil.
70% of the terror problems can be traced directly back to the House of Sauds and their funding of religious extremists in your country. Even after Peshawar, I don't think Pakistanis have figured out their priorities.
@indi: You ar so right. Just forgot to add - in their spare time the stupid Indians send stuff out to Mars, manage Microsoft, Pepsi and Oracle, run the second largest Tech company (TCS) on the planet and still find time to occupy Siachen, Kashmir and Sir Creek.
i am soo disappointed to see comments from indians here. We give them jobs in saudia and this is what they think of us. Makes me think why we recruit them. King was a great leader which kept the whole nation together.
@Pankaj: the funniest comment on this board. pls do ur research and google before writing here...
@A: Not a mass murderer? Wake up. This wahabi regime pumped millions of dollars into the madrassas and taliban to fight their proxy war in pakistan. Because of this, you have thousands of pakistanis who died. India is not your enemy. You youself are your worst enemy.
@Another Pakistani: Prove that India is being ruled by a person who killed thousands of Muslims.
@A:
really? Saudis the supporters of extremists everywhere and he, their king, was not responsible for it?
The muslim world has lost a great leader who was the mightest and the most genrous of all. Those Pakis who are not aware should know that approx 1.5 millions of their folks live and work in Saudi Arabia. His brother, the new ruler has announced that he will follow on the footsteps of former Kig's policies.
Rex Minor..
@Milind: Oh it is really surprising that India has an idea about democracy because as far as I know, India has never followed democratic norms in its relations with regional neighbors. I wonder how can you understand this given the fact that India is being ruled by a person who killed thousands of Muslims.
@Pankaj:
Read books on international politics when you get time.
Inna allahay wa Inna alahay rajion.! May the change in KSA result in more independent and honest ruler of the country.
Look at the hate dripping from these shameless hindu trolls. A king died. And they are dancing. That is why Modi is not invited to Saudia. They will not shake hands with a hindu. napak.
ET please print. You are are allowing all this hate from hindu trolls
@Farhan: I agree with you on this but he is. no more, he is dead. Let the poor soul be in peace.
Truly, it is really sad to loose a friend, who always supported Indian views on Kashmir, rising above religious fanaticism........
I hope the new king of Saudi Arabia practises what he preaches: Unity among Muslims!
@Pakistani: Yeah we all know what happened in 1971. Do not act like sane and sober, filled with filth inside against every possible people including muslims of bengal in 1971. They were butchered in lakhs.
@Another Pakistani - "and yet Modi has called him a guiding force, birds of same feather maybe?"
That's called diplomacy my friend.. Not all relations/issues are to be dealt or developed with force or meddling in other's affairs... diplomacy does count... Of course you won't get it, being from an army state.
@bash gul:
that is because Saudis dont do any work.
May this downfall continue. And the Al-Saud perish, usurpers and hostage takers.
Great Leader May His soul rest in peace Prayers !
Dushman maray tay khushi na Kate yeah, Sajana we mar Jana way...
@bilal: And who is celebrating death?
@Milind: And where did you get this info from? RAW??
@Saudi: Yes. My friend. This is all what they live for. Obsession with Pakistan.
@truthbetold: Hundreds???? Where did you get this number from. Oh yes now I get it. Your pathetic imagination. Their country their rules. If you bring drugs you are dead so what's the solution. Don't take drugs. Simple.
Yipee. Indian paid trolls have woken up. Totally irrelevant comments. Wait before they drag Kashmir ISI into the news.
Will he go UP...or will he go DOWN........we will never know. My guess is DOWN.
From Babur (Mongol descendant later called Moghul) to Bahadur Shah Zafer, the last of them who incited the commoner to revive his franchise (1857 revolt against the British) it is the story of the wise people eating fools feast.
This is the beginning of the end and as the crude is on a roller coaster downhill rampage, soon the sanity will prevail in the west and they will realize the mistake they made in supporting these unlawfull kingships in the name of some religion.
.... and no i am not an indian my emotional paki friends.
We even celebrate deaths ... What a pity
@truthbetold: Modi just called him a guiding force..im thinking maybe you are right or was Modi guiding the King in your mind ?
@Milind: and yet Modi has called him a guiding force, birds of same feather maybe?
The irony is that he was an alcoholic (Johnny Walker), lived a full life with several women, wine, food and still survived 90 years, defying all the medical theories....
@A - "At least he wasn’t a mass murderer like Modi. "
He did kill several hundred Muslim Brotherhood members in Egypt, through his proxy there.
All condolence to Nawaz Sharif who's been orphaned a third time after General Zia and Abba Ji.
@A:
"At least he wasn’t a mass murderer like Modi."
He did behead several hundreds of Pakistanis every year in Saudi Arabia.
Good riddance to bad rubbish
@Dajjal: In Saudi Arabia, there is no holiday even if the king dies.
Indians always have something negative to say at each and every occasion. Maybe have a look at the characters of Indian leaders ?
At least he wasn't a mass murderer like Modi.
Indians have two things to do - either rape or write comments on our newspapers. The ones writing here, in their own weird definition, didn't get "laid".
: "Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Rajeoon." Ameen. Salams
RIP King Abdullah.. We will Miss your kind attitude towards Pakistan. A song in the link is dedicated to you.
Innalliahi wa inna ilyhi rajion. King of Humanity: King Abdullah. May Allah have his mercy on him.
P.S: The Indians on this form can go back to being their usual troll selves.
Except for a few Pakistani politicians who feed off the Saudi royalty, nobody's going to miss him - least of all the Saudi people...
USA and Israel lost a close friend. May they feel patient at this irreparable loss.
3 Day Public holiday in Pakistan??? Dammit its already the weekend... so it wont matter ... now his death is in vain.
Given the passing of its Monarch, Pakistan should call for 30 days.
My condolrnces to the Saudi people. He was a good man and a good king, and tried his best to put the country on the right track.
He was a great reformer in Saudi Arabia. I am not sure about his brother, the new king, as he has relations with Wahabi groups and been a promoter of them.
Inna allahay wa Inna alahay rajion.
RIP