Line of succession to the Saudi Arabian Throne
Encyclopedia
The order of succession to the throne of Saudi Arabia
is determined by, and within, the House of Saud
. It follows agnatic seniority
, but a prince may be surpassed or another elevated. The Allegiance Council
was created in 2006 to facilitate the royal transfer of power.
King Abdullah
is the current ruler of Saudi Arabia. His heir apparent is Crown Prince
Nayef. At least two brothers, (Bandar
and Musaid), are older than King Abdullah
, and several others (Mishaal, Abdul-Rahman, Mutaib, Talal, Badr (?), Nawwaf (?)) are older than Nayef. But each has stepped aside due to health reasons, family consensus, or an unwillingness to participate in governing.
family has controlled vast parts of the region for two and half centuries. The Saudi royalty collapsed twice in the 1800s due to discord over succession. In 1890s, the Al Saud family was completely supplanted by a rival clan — the Al Rashid. The kingdom began to fight to restore itself through King Abdul-Aziz
and his surprise capture of Riyadh in 1902.
Abdul-Aziz conquered Arabia and formed alliances by marriage to members of its biggest tribes. This strengthened his power within the Al Sauds and expanded his legitimacy in Arabia. He presided over the discovery of oil in the region. He died in 1953.
His two eldest sons, Saud
and Faisal
, competed for power after his death. Faisal eventually secured the throne in 1964 and exiled Saud from power. He faced a minor challenge from the Free Princes
early on, but the reform movement was quickly disestablished. Faisal's popular reign was ended prematurely by his assassination in 1975. King Khalid
ascended to the throne and ruled until his death in 1982.
King Fahd
, the head of the Sudairi faction, ruled from 1982 until his stroke in 1995. Crown Prince Abdullah then took control of the kingdom's affairs and was crowned king in 2005, after the death of King Fahd. Since Fahd's ascent to the throne in 1982, the Sudairi Seven
have become the most powerful alliance within the ruling Saudi royal family.
King Abdullah is the present ruler of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Nayef is next in line to the throne
There are older brothers who are also under consideration;
Grandsons who appear to have the necessary support and experience to be considered candidates include:
Sons of Abdul-Aziz who do not seem to have the necessary experience, support, lineage, health, or ambition but are nonetheless influential in the selection process:
. It is composed of 35 people: Abdul-Aziz's sons, the eldest sons of the brothers who have died since Abdul-Aziz's death, and the sons of Abdullah and Sultan. The Council is led by Prince Mishaal. The Sudairi, who control a fifth of its seats, have been viewed as weakened because they have an even more disproportionate power within the government.
This, along with an earlier decree by King Fahd, has opened the possibility of considering Abdul-Aziz's grandsons as viable candidates. Beyond age, the criteria for selection include:
The Council votes by secret ballot. The council was intended to determine the line of succession after the reigns of Abdullah and Sultan. In October 2011, the death of Sultan before the end of Abdullah's reign opened the question of whether the council would vote for a new crown prince or whether Nayef automatically becomes crown prince. Several days later, a royal court statement read out on state television said the new Crown Prince Nayef had been appointed after the king met with the Allegiance Council.
The council also has the right to remove sitting kings for reasons of health.
King Abdullah is 87. Crown Prince Nayef is 78. Prince Salman is 75.
During the history of modern Saudi Arabia, second deputy premiers have always ended up as Crown Princes.
Since November 2010, Prince Nayef has chaired many Cabinet meetings in the absence of Sultan and Abdullah. Abdullah relegated his own post as Commander of the Saudi National Guard to his son, Prince Mutaib
. From December 2010 to March 2011, Abdullah went to the United States to obtain medical treatment. These were all indications that Abdullah was decreasing the amount of his duties. On October 27, 2011, Prince Nayef was officially announced Crown Prince following the death of Crown Prince Sultan.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
is determined by, and within, the House of Saud
House of Saud
The House of Saud , also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in the world. The family holds thousands of members...
. It follows agnatic seniority
Agnatic seniority
Agnatic seniority is a patrilineal principle of inheritance where the order of succession to the throne prefers the monarch's younger brother over the monarch's own sons. A monarch's children succeed only after the males of the elder generation have all been exhausted...
, but a prince may be surpassed or another elevated. The Allegiance Council
Allegiance Council
The Allegiance Council is the body responsible for determining future succession to the throne of Saudi Arabia. It was formed in 2006 by King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. At the time of its formation, the Council's intended function was to appoint a Crown Prince once a new King succeeds to the...
was created in 2006 to facilitate the royal transfer of power.
King Abdullah
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
is the current ruler of Saudi Arabia. His heir apparent is Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Nayef. At least two brothers, (Bandar
Bandar bin Abdul Aziz
Bandar bin Abdul-Aziz is the oldest living son of the late King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. Reluctance to partake in government may reflect why Prince Bandar stepped from the royalty succession. Nonetheless, in accordance with both family and tribal tradition, Bandar is believed to exercise a great...
and Musaid), are older than King Abdullah
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
, and several others (Mishaal, Abdul-Rahman, Mutaib, Talal, Badr (?), Nawwaf (?)) are older than Nayef. But each has stepped aside due to health reasons, family consensus, or an unwillingness to participate in governing.
History
Saudi Arabia became a kingdom in 1932. The Al SaudHouse of Saud
The House of Saud , also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in the world. The family holds thousands of members...
family has controlled vast parts of the region for two and half centuries. The Saudi royalty collapsed twice in the 1800s due to discord over succession. In 1890s, the Al Saud family was completely supplanted by a rival clan — the Al Rashid. The kingdom began to fight to restore itself through King Abdul-Aziz
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
and his surprise capture of Riyadh in 1902.
Abdul-Aziz conquered Arabia and formed alliances by marriage to members of its biggest tribes. This strengthened his power within the Al Sauds and expanded his legitimacy in Arabia. He presided over the discovery of oil in the region. He died in 1953.
His two eldest sons, Saud
Saud of Saudi Arabia
Saud bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was King of Saudi Arabia from 1953 to 1964. He was removed from power by Faisal because of Saud's mismanagement and waste. He was the eldest surviving son of Ibn Saud and became Crown Prince in 1933. He died in exile in Greece.-Early life:Saud was born in 1902 in Kuwait...
and Faisal
Faisal of Saudi Arabia
Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was King of Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975. As king, he is credited with rescuing the country's finances and implementing a policy of modernization and reform, while his main foreign policy themes were pan-Islamic Nationalism, anti-Communism, and pro-Palestinian...
, competed for power after his death. Faisal eventually secured the throne in 1964 and exiled Saud from power. He faced a minor challenge from the Free Princes
Free Princes
Free Princes Movement was a Saudi liberal political movement from 1958-64. Its members were known as the Young Najd, Free Princes, and Liberal Princes....
early on, but the reform movement was quickly disestablished. Faisal's popular reign was ended prematurely by his assassination in 1975. King Khalid
Khalid of Saudi Arabia
Khalid bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was King of Saudi Arabia from 1975 to 1982. He ruled during Saudi Arabia's oil boom years. In 1979, he had to deal with the Grand Mosque Seizure...
ascended to the throne and ruled until his death in 1982.
King Fahd
Fahd of Saudi Arabia
Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was King of Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 2005...
, the head of the Sudairi faction, ruled from 1982 until his stroke in 1995. Crown Prince Abdullah then took control of the kingdom's affairs and was crowned king in 2005, after the death of King Fahd. Since Fahd's ascent to the throne in 1982, the Sudairi Seven
Sudairi Seven
The Sudairi Seven, also spelled Sudairy or Sudayri, is the commonly used name for a powerful alliance of seven full brothers and their descendants within the royal family of Saudi Arabia. They are also known as the Al Fahd . They are sometimes referred to as the Sudairi Clan or the Sudairi faction...
have become the most powerful alliance within the ruling Saudi royal family.
King Abdullah is the present ruler of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Nayef is next in line to the throne
Candidates
After Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz, the most likely candidate for the throne are his brothers:- Salman bin Abdul-Aziz (born 1936) Minister of Defense, November 2011. Former Governor of Riyadh, Sudairi Seven
- Ahmed bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1941) Deputy Interior Minister, Sudairi Seven
- Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1941) Governor of Riyadh. (November 2011).
- Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1945) Director General of Saudi Intelligence.
There are older brothers who are also under consideration;
- Mishaal bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1926) Chairman of the Bay'ah Council
- Mutaib bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1931) former Minister for Municipal & Rural Affairs
- Abdul-Rahman bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1931) former Deputy Defense Minister, Sudairi Seven
- Badr bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1933) former Deputy Commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard
Grandsons who appear to have the necessary support and experience to be considered candidates include:
- Khalid Al-Faisal, (born 1940) Governor of Makkah Province
- Saud Al-Faisal,(born 1941) Foreign Minister
- Turki Al-Faisal, (born 1945) former Director of General Intelligence
- Khalid bin SultanKhalid bin SultanKhaled bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is the Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation of Saudi Arabia. He led Saudi troops in the First Persian Gulf War and also controversially led the botched Yemen bombing in late 2009...
, (born 1949) Deputy Defense Minister - Muhammad bin FahdMuhammad bin FahdMuhammad bin Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is Governor of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. He is a business partner of Al-Bilal Trading Company - a major conglomerate associated with construction and imports.-Early life and education:...
, (born 1951) Governor of Eastern Province - Mutaib bin AbdullahMutaib bin Abdullah*Seba*Nouf*Abdullah*Zeina*Saad*KhalidPrince Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud is the Commander of the Saudi National Guard since 2010. He is also a state minister. He is a son of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia....
, (born 1953) Commander of National Guard - Muhammad bin NayefMuhammad bin NayefPrince Mohammad bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud is the Saudi Deputy Interior Minister in charge of Counter-Terrorism. He survived an assassination attempt in August 2009.-Personal life:Born in Jeddah, he moved to Riyadh...
, (born 1959) Deputy Interior Minister - Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah, (born 1962) Deputy Foreign Minister
Sons of Abdul-Aziz who do not seem to have the necessary experience, support, lineage, health, or ambition but are nonetheless influential in the selection process:
- Bandar bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1923)
- Musa'id bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1923)
- Hadhlul bin Abdul-Aziz, (born 1940)
Allegiance Council
In October 2006, King Abdullah created the Allegiance CouncilAllegiance Council
The Allegiance Council is the body responsible for determining future succession to the throne of Saudi Arabia. It was formed in 2006 by King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. At the time of its formation, the Council's intended function was to appoint a Crown Prince once a new King succeeds to the...
. It is composed of 35 people: Abdul-Aziz's sons, the eldest sons of the brothers who have died since Abdul-Aziz's death, and the sons of Abdullah and Sultan. The Council is led by Prince Mishaal. The Sudairi, who control a fifth of its seats, have been viewed as weakened because they have an even more disproportionate power within the government.
Power of the Council
The purpose of the Council is to ensure the smooth transition of power in the event of incapacitation or death of the King or Crown Prince.This, along with an earlier decree by King Fahd, has opened the possibility of considering Abdul-Aziz's grandsons as viable candidates. Beyond age, the criteria for selection include:
- Support within the Al Saud
- Tenure in government
- Tribal affiliations and origins of a candidate's mother
- Religious persona
- Acceptance by the UlemaUlemaUlama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
- Support by the merchant community
- Popularity among the general Saudi citizenry.
The Council votes by secret ballot. The council was intended to determine the line of succession after the reigns of Abdullah and Sultan. In October 2011, the death of Sultan before the end of Abdullah's reign opened the question of whether the council would vote for a new crown prince or whether Nayef automatically becomes crown prince. Several days later, a royal court statement read out on state television said the new Crown Prince Nayef had been appointed after the king met with the Allegiance Council.
The council also has the right to remove sitting kings for reasons of health.
Succession after Abdullah
By tradition, kingship has passed between brothers of one generation of the Al Saud family before descending to the next generation. The House of Saud has recently been in anxiety over succession. The central problem is that the majority of the remaining 20 of the 35-plus sons of King Abdul-Aziz are either too old, or do not have the experience, to manage the kingdom.King Abdullah is 87. Crown Prince Nayef is 78. Prince Salman is 75.
During the history of modern Saudi Arabia, second deputy premiers have always ended up as Crown Princes.
Since November 2010, Prince Nayef has chaired many Cabinet meetings in the absence of Sultan and Abdullah. Abdullah relegated his own post as Commander of the Saudi National Guard to his son, Prince Mutaib
Mutaib bin Abdullah
*Seba*Nouf*Abdullah*Zeina*Saad*KhalidPrince Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud is the Commander of the Saudi National Guard since 2010. He is also a state minister. He is a son of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia....
. From December 2010 to March 2011, Abdullah went to the United States to obtain medical treatment. These were all indications that Abdullah was decreasing the amount of his duties. On October 27, 2011, Prince Nayef was officially announced Crown Prince following the death of Crown Prince Sultan.