10 things you should know about Saudi Arabia’s new king

The death of Saudi Arabia’s monarch, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on Friday, January 23, has ushered in a new regime in the royal kingdom.

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was the Crown Prince until Abdullah’s death, has ascended the throne previously occupied by his late half-brother.

Here are 10 things you should know about the new King of Saudi Arabia:

1. He was born on 31 December 1935.
2. He is the child of late King Abdul Aziz bin al-Saud, who was the founder of modern day Saudi Arabia.
3. He is one of the "Sudairi Seven", an influential faction within the royal family consisting of the seven sons of King Abdulaziz by a favourite wife, Princess Hassa al-Sudairi.
4. He was the Governor of Riyadh from 1955-1960 and again from 1963 to 2011.
5. He was appointed Defence Minister in 2011 upon the death of his brother Crown Prince Sultan.
6. He was named Crown Prince and heir apparent to the throne in 2012.
7. He owns important stake in one of the Arab world's largest media groups.
8. He is believed to have suffered at least one stroke that has left him with limited movement in his left arm.
9. He ascended the throne on Friday, January 23, 2015.
10. He will be succeeded by half-brother, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, the youngest surviving son of the late King Abdulaziz who has been named Crown Prince.