JEDDAH: Saudi students studying in US universities at their own expense will be absorbed into the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program under a royal directive.

King Salman made this announcement during his historic visit to the US on Saturday.

The royal decision is expected to benefit nearly 9,500 self-funded Saudi students who are currently enrolled in various American universities.

According to an SPA report, quoting Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Isa, the Saudi cultural attache in Washington, there are 125,513 male and female Saudi students on government scholarship in the US.

Of these students, 57,303 are male and 17,902 are female, while the rest are companions.

The king also ordered payment of all medical expenses of Saudi patients suffering from intractable diseases in the US.