The official spokesman of Riyadh police said that security forces ‘dealt with’ an unauthorised, small drone-type toy after spotting it at a security point in Khuzama neighbourhood, state-run news agency SPA said.

An investigation into the incident, which happened at 7:50pm local time, was under way.

Earlier, there were unconfirmed reports on social media of heavy gunfire around the royal palace. However, authorities firmly denied any major security breach, reported Gulf Times.

Online videos, showing gunfire in a neighbourhood where royal palaces are located, had sparked fears of possible political unrest, according to Reuters.

There were no casualties, and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was not at his palace at the time, a senior Saudi official told Reuters.

“The king was at his farm in Diriya,” the official said, naming another area of the capital.

The official said the drone had been shot down, and added that the government would introduce regulations for the use of recreational drones.