King Abdullah returned to Saudi Arabia after spending three months abroad for medical treatment.
After his arrival, he announced to spend $35 billion on public welfare schemes. He travelled to the United States in November for surgery to a herniated disk which caused blood accumulation around the spine. He has been recuperating in Morocco for the past four weeks. During the kings absence, his slightly younger half-brother Crown Prince Sultan was in charge. However, doubts remain over his health as he was abroad for much of the past two years for illness.Hundreds of men in white robes performed a traditional Bedouin sword dance on special carpets laid out at Riyadh airport as they prepared to greet the monarch, thought to be 87.