RIYADH — Saudi King Abdullah arrived in his homeland on Wednesday after three months abroad, boosting social benefits for his people as he returned to a Middle East rocked by anti-regime uprisings.
As the king's plane touched down at King Khaled bin Abdul Aziz Airport, men in white garb performed a traditional Ardha dance while well-wishers including women, most in black niqabs, waited to see their ruler.
Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz and Bahraini King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa were among a string of officials and royals who turned out to greet the 86-year-old monarch, who was seated in a black chair set up just outside the plane's door.
Saudi Arabia has declared Saturday a public holiday to mark King Abdullah's safe return home, following back surgery in New York and a recuperation period in Morocco.
Hours before his arrival, the king boosted social benefits for civil servants, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
He ordered the implementation of a 15 percent pay rise for state employees as well as an increase in the cash available for Saudi housing loans।
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