In a significant demonstration of resumed royal duties, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia personally convened and chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. This public appearance came just days after the monarch’s brief hospitalization for comprehensive medical evaluations at a Riyadh medical facility last Friday. Saudi state television broadcast verified footage showing the 88-year-old king actively engaged in governmental proceedings, reviewing official documents alongside his ministers.
The cabinet session addressed matters of international diplomacy, with the King formally expressing Saudi Arabia’s endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently established ‘Board of Peace’ initiative. This diplomatic gesture reinforces the enduring strategic alliance between the Kingdom and the United States, particularly significant given Saudi Arabia’s position as the world’s leading oil exporter and a pivotal Middle Eastern power.
The monarch’s prompt return to official responsibilities carries substantial symbolic weight, effectively dispelling concerns about his health status following his 2024 treatment for lung inflammation. The transparent dissemination of this development through official state media channels underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining stability and continuity in leadership during a period of regional geopolitical significance.