PHOTOS: Thousands say farewell to Saudi's King Abdullah

Thousands gathered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to pay their respects to King Abdullah, who died early on Friday.

His body has been buried in an unmarked grave in Riyadh less than 24 hours after his death plunged Saudi Arabia into mourning.

Family, friends and dignitaries from the Arab world crowded around the grave to pay their final respects.

King Abdullah’s body was shrouded in a simple cloth as he was carried into the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh on a stretcher.

Mourners gather around the grave of Saudi King Abdullah following his burial in Riyadh..King Abdullah died early on Friday after a short illness. Photograph: Reuters

Followers prays as King Abdullah is buried in an unmarked grave in keeping with local religious traditions. Photograph: Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters

The body of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz is carried during his funeral at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a close friend of the United States and a scourge of Islamist militants, will be the country's first king from the third generation of its ruling dynasty. Photograph: Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters

Prince Turki, son of the late Saudi King Abdullah, sits in a car during his father’s funeral in Riyadh. Photograph: Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters

Members of Saudi security forces stand guard during the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh. Photograph: Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters