King Salam speaks during a meeting. File

Saudi Arabia's 84-year-old ruler King Salman underwent successful surgery on Thursday to remove his gall bladder, the royal court said, three days after he was admitted to hospital.

The king is the second reigning ruler in the Gulf to be hospitalised after Kuwait's 91-year-old Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.

Kuwaiti Emir left on Thursday morning for the United States to seek further medical care after recently undergoing surgery himself.

The king "underwent a laparoscopic surgery to remove the gall bladder today... at King Faisal specialist hospital in Riyadh," the royal court said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

A video released by state media on Tuesday showed the king chairing a virtual cabinet meeting from hospital.

The gallbladder, a small, pouch-like organ near the liver that stores bile, can easily be removed and is not critical for life. Surgeons often take it out if it begins to bother a patient.

King Salman will remain at the hospital for some time to recover and be observed by doctors, the report said, citing a statement from the Saudi royal court.

The king thanked all his well-wishers, the report said.

The king will remain in hospital for some time after the "successful" surgery, the statement added.

The king was admitted to hospital on Monday "for some medical tests" due to inflammation of the gall bladder, according to the royal court.

The king's hospitalisation prompted Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhemi to postpone his scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia, which was due to start on Monday.

Agencies