Looking back: The political life of late King Abdullah

“As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions,” said US President Obama said in a statement.
Published January 23, 2015
US President Barack Obama shaking hands with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. Photo – AFP
US President Barack Obama shaking hands with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. Photo – AFP
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz arrives at Heathrow Airport in west London.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz arrives at Heathrow Airport in west London.
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Right) standing alongside US President Barack Obama during an arrival ceremony at the King Khaled international airport in Riyadh. King Juan Carlos of Spain (Left), Queen Sofia (2ndRight), Crown Prince Felipe (Right) and Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-sahud (2ndLeft) posing before a official diner at Royal Palace in Madrid. Photo – AFP
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Right) standing alongside US President Barack Obama during an arrival ceremony at the King Khaled international airport in Riyadh. King Juan Carlos of Spain (Left), Queen Sofia (2ndRight), Crown Prince Felipe (Right) and Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-sahud (2ndLeft) posing before a official diner at Royal Palace in Madrid. Photo – AFP
Saudi King Abdullah (Centre) receiving at the time Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (Left) at the royal palace in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Photo – AFP
Saudi King Abdullah (Centre) receiving at the time Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (Left) at the royal palace in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Photo – AFP
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (Centre), Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (Left) and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (Right) posing for an official photo in Caracas. Photo – AFP
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (Centre), Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (Left) and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (Right) posing for an official photo in Caracas. Photo – AFP
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (centre foreground) recieving Guard of Honour with Britain's Prince Philip (centre background) in Horse Guards Parade in London. Photo – AP
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (centre foreground) recieving Guard of Honour with Britain's Prince Philip (centre background) in Horse Guards Parade in London. Photo – AP
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (Right) shaking hands with former US president Bill Clinton upon his arrival for a meeting in Riyadh late. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (Right) with Queen Elizabeth II (Left) and The Duke of Edinburgh (Cntre) before the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in London after the first day of the Saudi King's visit. Photo – AFP
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (Right) shaking hands with former US president Bill Clinton upon his arrival for a meeting in Riyadh late. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (Right) with Queen Elizabeth II (Left) and The Duke of Edinburgh (Cntre) before the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in London after the first day of the Saudi King's visit. Photo – AFP
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Right) presenting the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit to US President George W. Bush at the Riyadh Palace. Photo – AFP
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Right) presenting the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit to US President George W. Bush at the Riyadh Palace. Photo – AFP
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (Right) walking with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat (Left) prior to their meeting in Jeddah.  King Abdullah(right) holds his sword as he takes part in the traditional Arda dance (War dance) during the Janadriyah Festival. Photo – AP/AFP
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (Right) walking with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat (Left) prior to their meeting in Jeddah. King Abdullah(right) holds his sword as he takes part in the traditional Arda dance (War dance) during the Janadriyah Festival. Photo – AP/AFP
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (Left) meeting with Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on the sidelines of the Arab League summit in Doha. Photo – AFP
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (Left) meeting with Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on the sidelines of the Arab League summit in Doha. Photo – AFP
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Right) walking hand-in-hand with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Centre) and Omani leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said as they arrive for the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha. Photo – AFP
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Right) walking hand-in-hand with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Centre) and Omani leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said as they arrive for the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha. Photo – AFP
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah attends the opening session of the Arab summit in Doha. Photo – REUTERS
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah attends the opening session of the Arab summit in Doha. Photo – REUTERS
Crown Prince Abdullah waves as he arrives to open a conference in Riyadh. Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz leaving the airport in Riyadh after greeting the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Photo – AFP/ REUTERS
Crown Prince Abdullah waves as he arrives to open a conference in Riyadh. Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz leaving the airport in Riyadh after greeting the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Photo – AFP/ REUTERS
Pope Benedict XVI welcomes Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Vatican before heading into private talks in his library. Photo – AP
Pope Benedict XVI welcomes Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Vatican before heading into private talks in his library. Photo – AP
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, left, speaks with Prince Salman, the Saudi King's brother and Riyadh governor, right, before the king's departure to United States. Photo – AP
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, left, speaks with Prince Salman, the Saudi King's brother and Riyadh governor, right, before the king's departure to United States. Photo – AP
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, center, waves during the inauguration of the Princess Noura bint Abdulrahaman University in Riyadh. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia using a walker arrives for the funeral of his brother Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh. Photo – AP
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, center, waves during the inauguration of the Princess Noura bint Abdulrahaman University in Riyadh. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia using a walker arrives for the funeral of his brother Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh. Photo – AP