London, Asharq Al-Awsat-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has passed away and been succeeded to the throne by Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court announced on Friday.

The new Saudi monarch, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, called on Saudi Arabia’s Allegiance Council to confirm Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz as the new Crown Prince and heir to the throne, according to the Royal Court statement.

The statement, which was announced on state TV after midnight local time, confirmed that funeral prayers for King Abdullah are set to take place at Prince Turki Bin Abdullah mosque in the capital Riyadh on Friday.