Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah appears to be in failing health. The Saudi royal house is making extraordinary efforts to project an image of business-as-usual. But the lack of transparency regarding succession has fueled speculation about who will be designated heir once Crown Prince Salman takes over. On November 26, Albawaba News reported that the king was “clinically dead.” Two days, an apology and a public appearance by Abdullah on state television later, it was confirmed that he had not, in fact, passed away during back surgery—his fourth—for which he had been hospitalized and unseen except by brothers and sons since November 17.
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