As Arab leaders gather in Saudi Arabia King Salman’s absence looms large

With the king barely seen for 20 months, the crown prince is holding the reins of power - and unbothered by who knows it

Beaming in satisfaction as Arab rulers arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday, Mohammed bin Salman looked like a man in charge. As a succession of planes disgorged heads of state for a regional summit, the Saudi crown prince was there to receive them - standing in for his father at yet another big event.

But as Prince Mohammed ushered leaders of Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain along a purple carpet to a reception hall, the king's absence loomed large. If the ailing monarch was to reappear in public - a once every five year gathering under his auspices would have been the time and place.