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King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud died yesterday following a short illness at the age of 90.
News of his death was confirmed this morning by a statement from Saudi Arabia's royal court, who said the monarch passed away yesterday at 1:00am local time.
Abdullah's 79-year-old half-brother, Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, has been appointed the conservative kingdom's new monarch.
In light of his passing, the Government instructed that all flags in the country be flown at half-mast from 8am until 8pm this evening.
The statement from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport read: "It is with great regret that we learn of the death of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, King of Saudi Arabia.
"It is requested that all flags be half-masted from 8am today until 8pm this evening.
"Any other UK national flags flown alongside the Union Flag when it is at half-mast should also be at half-mast.
"If a flag of a foreign nation is normally flown on the same stand as the Union Flag, it should be removed.
"Local authorities are not bound by this request but may wish to follow it for guidance.
"Devolved administrations are responsible for issuing instructions for the flying of the Union Flag on buildings in their estate and others as necessary."
The flag at the Westminster Abbey, London
Houses of Parliament, London
However, their request has been blasted by human rights organisation Amnesty International UK who said the focus should be on reforming the Middle Eastern country.
Throughout the reign of King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia found itself at the centre of several human rights controversies.
Most recently, blogger Raif Badawi was sentenced to imprisonment and 1,000 lashes for starting the 'Free Saudi Liberals' website.
His planned public flogging has been postponed twice.
Other incidences include the public beheading of Laila Bint Abdul Muttalib Basim.
She had been convicted of torturing and killing her husband's seven-year-old daughter.
A video of the execution - which showed her screaming “I did not kill," - was posted and then subsequently removed from YouTube.
The Saudi regime's brutal penal system was highlighted again last month when a list emerged revealing how the so-called Islamic State terror group inflict a near-identical series of punishments.
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: "No-one is flying flags for the scores of people Saudi Arabia executes each year after unfair trials, and we should focus on the human rights reality in Saudi Arabia not the emblems of diplomacy.
"When the flags are run back up their flagpoles the UK government needs to move on from the tributes and put on public record their desire to see sweeping human rights reform under King Salman."
The half-masting of Union Flags was also slammed by Louise Mensch, a former Conservative MP, who took to Twitter criticise the UK Government.
"It is so unacceptable to offer deep condolences for a man who flogged women, didn't let them drive, saw guardian laws passed, & STARVES THEM,” she wrote.
Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the decision was "a steaming pile of nonsense".
She tweeted: "Flying flags at half mast on gov buildings for the death of Saudi king is a steaming pile of nonsense. That is all."
Despite the heavy criticism, flags across the Government estate - including the Treasury - were seen flying at half-mast today.
It is understood that King Abdullah was admitted to hospital on 31 December suffering from pneumonia.
His funeral took place this afternoon at a mosque in Riyadh, with Prince Charles set to attend a reception afterwards.
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