King Abdullah Ends 9-Year Reign, Salman is New King of Saudi Arabia

Jan 23, 2015 12:52 AM EST

(Photo : ReutersREUTERS/Mandel Ngan/Pool) Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Salman bin Sultan poses before a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (unseen) in a terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia, May 13, 2014.

After three weeks of confinement in the hospital, Saudi Arabia King Abdullah died on early Friday morning, ending nine years of reign that began in 2006. With his death, the new king is his brother Salman, while the crown prince and heir of the new king is half-brother Muqrin.

The late Saudi king was admitted at a Riyadh hospital on December 31 for a lung infection.

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"His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning," the royal palace said in an announcement.

The deceased king is believed to have been born in 1924, making him 90. While his official reign started in 2006, he was actually regent for one year when King Fahd, his predecessor, had a stroke, Reuters reports.

King Salman is believed to be 79. Since 2012, he has been crown prince and defense minister, while he served as governor of Riyadh Province for 50 years.

Under his five-decade leadership, Salman was able to achieve a good mix of balancing the interests of the clerics, tribes and royals, while he kept good relationship with western nations. His appointment of Muqrin as crown prince is subject to approval by the family Allegiance Council.

By naming an heir, Salman assures a successor, which is vital to the stability of the country as well as its oil deals with other nations.

Abdullah, when he was alive, played a key role in the kingdom's support for the Egyptian government after the military intervention in 2012 and support to rebels pushing for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The White House, in a statement from U.S. President Barack Obama, conveyed appreciation for King Abdulla's leadership.

"As our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah's perspective and appreciated out genuine and warm friendship," Obama said. "As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions."