
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to state media. This marks the first time the 88-year-old monarch has presided over such a session since issuing a royal decree on Aug. 8 allowing the cabinet to convene in his or the crown prince’s absence.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired the previous cabinet session on Aug. 13.
King Salman, who leads the world’s largest oil exporter and a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, had received medical treatment for lung inflammation in May. Due to his health, Crown Prince Mohammed postponed a planned official visit to Japan earlier this year.
The Aug. 8 decree enables the cabinet to meet without the king, crown prince, or their deputies. In their absence, the eldest cabinet member who is a direct descendant of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the modern Saudi state, would preside over the session.