Marbella-loving prince becomes King of Saudi Arabia

The death of 90-year-old Abdala Ibn Abdelaziz, King of Saudi Arabia, has elevated his Marbella-loving brother Salman Ibn Abdelaziz to become the new king.

Salman, aged 79, who is now the Saudi king, owns Al Riyad, a luxurious palace on the Golden Mile close to the Mar-Mar palace, built in the Costa del Sol town by former king Fahd, and the mosque.

The new king also owns the luxury yacht Shaf of London, which is often seen docked in Puerto Banus.

Salman is the member of the Saudi royal family that has shown the greatest passion for Marbella, with visits almost every summer for two decades becoming great social events and generating extra income for the city thanks to the large groups that accompany the royal visits.

Some of Salman’s children live in Marbella, where Princess Sultana (one of Salman’s wives) also spent long periods before her death in 2011.

Salman and Sultana had six children: Fahd, Ahmad, Sultan, Abdul-Aziz, Faisal and Hussa.

It was after Sultana’s death that Salman’s visits to the city became less frequent, although when there he was often seen at Friday prayer sessions at King Fahd’s mosque or having breakfast in the Plaza de los Naranjos, one of his favourite places.

Born in Riad on December 31, 1935, Salman became the successor to the throne in June 2012 and has held the posts of deputy prime minister and minister of defence.