Muqrin bin Abdulaziz explained

Consort:yes
Full Name:Muqrin bin Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud
Spouse:Abta bint Hamoud Al Rashid
Issue:14
Issue-Link:
  1. Personal life
Reign:23 January 2015  - 29 April 2015
Predecessor:Salman bin Abdulaziz
Successor:Muhammad bin Nayef
Reign2:27 March 2014  - 23 January 2015
Predecessor2:Nayef bin Abdulaziz (as second deputy prime minister)
Successor2:Muhammad bin Nayef
Succession3:Director General of
Reign3:October 2005  - 19 July 2012
Predecessor3:Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz
Successor3:Bandar bin Sultan
Succession4:Governor of Madinah Province
Reign4:1999 - 2005
Predecessor4:Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz
Successor4:Abdulaziz bin Majid
Succession5:Governor of Hail Province
Reign5:1980 - 1999
Successor5:Saud bin Abdul Muhsin
Predecessor5:Nasser Al Sheikh
Father:King Abdulaziz
Mother:Baraka Al Yamaniyah
Birth Date:15 September 1945
Birth Place:Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
House:Al Saud
Occupation:Politician • businessman • air force pilot
Module:
Embed:yes
Embed Title:Military service
Branch:Royal Saudi Air Force
Serviceyears:1965–1980

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Arabic: مقرن بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود|Muqrin ibn 'Abd al 'Azīz Āl Su'ūd; born 15 September 1945)[1] is a Saudi Arabian politician, businessman, and former military aviator who was briefly Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from January to April 2015, during the first three months of his half-brother King Salman's reign. He is the 35th son of King Abdulaziz, born to Abdulaziz's Yemeni concubine Baraka. Since the death of Abdulaziz's 36th son Hamoud in 1994, Muqrin has been the youngest surviving son of the king.[2] [3]

Prince Muqrin served as the director general of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah from 2005 to 2012. In July 2012, he was appointed King Abdullah's advisor and special envoy with the rank of minister. On 27 March 2014, he was named deputy crown prince making him second in the line of succession behind his half-brother Salman.[4] On 23 January 2015, upon King Abdullah's death and the accession of Salman, Muqrin became crown prince[5] and first deputy prime minister. Only three months later, on 29 April 2015, King Salman dismissed Muqrin, replacing him with his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef.[6]

Early life and education

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz was born in Riyadh on 15 September 1945.[1] He is the 35th son of King Abdulaziz. His mother, Baraka Al Yamaniyah, was a Yemeni of African descent[7] [8] and was a concubine of King Abdulaziz.[9] She died in Riyadh on 22 August 2018.[10]

Muqrin studied at the Riyadh Model Institute.[2] He then went to Britain's RAF College Cranwell and graduated with a degree in aeronautics at the rank of flight lieutenant in 1968.[2] [11] He also received a diploma from the General Staff course in the United States in 1974.[2]

Career

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz was an air force pilot.[12] In 1965, he joined the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).[13] He was named commander of the RSAF's 2nd air squadron in 1970. He had served in several positions in the RSAF from 1973 to 1977 before being appointed the adjutant to the director of air operations.[2] He then was elevated to president of operations and planning for the RSAF. He left the RSAF in 1980.[13]

Governorship

On 18 March 1980, King Khalid appointed Prince Muqrin as governor of Hail replacing Nasser Al Sheikh in the post,[14] and his tenure lasted until 1999. During his tenure Prince Muqrin reformed the local government of Hail with the assistance from the Institute of Public Administration and improved the living conditions of the tribes in the region. He also contributed to the agricultural activities of the region.[15]

On 24 November 1999, Prince Muqrin was appointed governor of Madinah Province as a successor to Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz.[16] King Fahd ordered him to modernize the city in response to a wave of anti-government and anti-royalty demonstrations during Hajj. Prince Muqrin developed the education and health care services offered in remote regions.[17] As governor, Prince Muqrin was considered a traditionalist.[18] He remained in office until October 2005.[19] Abdulaziz bin Majid succeeded him as governor of Madinah Province.[20]

Director General of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah

On 22 October 2005, King Abdullah appointed Prince Muqrin as director general of Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.[16] [19] [21] His appointment occurred nine months after the resignation of the former director general Prince Nawwaf.[21] [22]

Prince Muqrin organized a conference on combating internet militancy, particularly used by al Qaeda in 2007.[23] He further declared that Al Mukhabarat al A'amah would set a website to inform citizens about threats to security and that the organization would be restructured to combat with AQAP.[24] He successfully expelled Islamist militants from Saudi Arabia. On 19 July 2012, Prince Muqrin was relieved from his post and replaced by Bandar bin Sultan.[25] It was argued by media that Prince Muqrin had been criticized during his term due to his approach towards some sensitive issues.[26] On the other hand, Prince Muqrin was named advisor at the rank of minister and a special envoy to King Abdullah the same day.[25] [27] His responsibility was stated to be the affairs in southeast Asia.[28]

Activities

Prince Muqrin played an active role in Pakistani politics during his term at the Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.[29] After Pervez Musharraf's 1999 military coup on Nawaz Sharif, the Saudi government arranged a ten-year agreement with Pervez Musharraf to accept Nawaz Sharif as an exile.[30] Because of Benazir Bhutto's early return from exile and the upcoming 2008 elections, Sharif attempted to return to Pakistan in 2007 against the advice of Prince Muqrin.[31] [32] However, Sharif was quickly deported from Pakistan and was greeted by Muqrin bin Abdulaziz at the Jeddah airport.[33] Prince Muqrin was also involved in political reconciliation efforts in Pakistan.[34] [35]

On the other hand, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and then foreign minister Prince Saud Al Faisal were reported to be in favor of pushing the sanctions against Iran instead of military action as King Abdullah insisted.[36] However, Prince Muqrin also argued that Iran's interference in internal Gulf affairs, especially Iran's move in regard to nuclear arms, had very negative effects on the region and therefore, might cause an arms race among the Gulf states.[37]

Business activities

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz also has business activities. He was one of the founders of the Dar Al Maal Al Islami Trust which was initiated by Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud, King Faisal's son, in 1981.[38] During his tenure as the governor of Hail province, he founded Hail Agricultural Development Company in 1982.[39] [40] In the late 1980s, the company was the largest wheat producer in the country.[39]

Succession

See main article: Succession to the Saudi Arabian throne.

Eligibility

Given his governmental experience, Prince Muqrin was considered a candidate for accession to the throne (after Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the crown prince since 2005, fell ill in 2011).[41] [42] [43] However, his maternal line was seen as a factor curtailing Muqrin's chance of becoming king;[23] his mother was a Yemeni maidservant,[44] and he did not belong to the dominant Sudairi faction of the royal house.[45] He was considered a longtime ally and confidant of King Abdullah,[45] [44] and a liberal within the family.[46] However, the Institute for Gulf Affairs reported in 2012 that, in an exchange of letters with his half-brother, Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Prince Muqrin argued for a harsher response to Shia unrest in the Eastern Province, an approach apparently vetoed by the crown prince.[46]

Second Deputy Prime Minister

Prince Muqrin was appointed as second deputy prime minister by King Abdullah on 1 February 2013,[47] although he was not seen as a potential contender for the post by analysts.[48] [49] This post, which had been vacant since October 2011, is regarded as second in line to the Saudi throne.[47] [50] In practical terms, in this role Prince Muqrin was expected to handle daily running of the country whenever King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman were out of the country or could not deal with daily administrative affairs due to health concerns.[47] In addition to the post of second deputy prime minister, Prince Muqrin kept his other two previous posts, namely adviser to and special envoy of King Abdullah.[51]

Deputy Crown Prince

After almost a year with the post of second deputy prime minister vacant, Prince Muqrin was formally designated by royal decree in 2013. This meant that he was informally next in line, bypassing several senior princes. In order to make his place in the line of succession permanent and preclude any challenges by any of the dispossessed royals, King Abdullah polled each member of the Allegiance Council individually before announcing Muqrin's new title.[52] Three-quarters of the Council members supported Prince Muqrin's new post.[44]

Prince Muqrin's nomination, according to Reuters, gave more assurance to the kingdom's long-term succession process, proving prophetic with the efficient change of power upon the death of King Abdullah and the accession of King Salman on 23 January 2015.[4]

Crown Prince

Prince Muqrin became Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and first deputy prime minister on 23 January 2015 when King Abdullah died.[5] On 29 April 2015, after a tenure of barely three months, King Salman relieved Muqrin (his half-brother) of his position as crown prince, and replaced him with his nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef (MBN), who had previously been deputy crown prince.[6] This marked a generational shift: the first time that a grandson (rather than a son) of dynastic founder Ibn Saud had been selected as heir apparent.[53] [54] Salman simultenously elevated Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), then in his 30s, to the post of deputy crown prince.[54] Saudi state media said that Muqrin was removed at his own request.[54] While Muqrin had been viewed as a transitional figure,[55] [56] observers viewed his rapid removal as a surprise.[53]

After his firing as crown prince, Muqrin was reportedly granted lavish gifts, including US$800 million, and in 2016, the Solandge, a 280-foot yacht.[57] [58] Muqrin's treatment upon his ouster as crown prince was far different than that later accorded to MBN, who - after being ousted in a palace coup in 2017 led by MBS - was placed under house arrest, and had much of his wealth seized.[57]

Personal life

Prince Muqrin is married to Abta bint Hamoud Al Rashid.[59] [60] She was president of the Women's Council when Prince Muqrin was Madinah governor.[59]

He has 14 children.[61] His daughters are Mudahawi, Sara, Mishail, Abta, Nuf, Lamiya, Jawahir, and Sara. His sons are Fahd, Abdulaziz, Faysal, Turki, Mansour and Bandar.[60] Prince Turki founded a real-estate company in Turkey. He is a pilot and CEO of Rabigh Wings Aviation Academy in Jeddah.[62] Prince Turki is also a board member of the Saudi Aviation Club.[63]

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz is said to enjoy astronomy, literature and Arabic poetry and has a large library containing thousands of books.[16]

Prince Muqrin purchased four real estate properties about 7,700 square meters in Dlebta, Lebanon, following the approval of the cabinet in 2012 and the publishing of the listed sale in the official gazette. Dlebta's residents objected to the deal and filed a complaint with the relevant authorities.[64]

Honors

Prince Muqrin is the recipient of several decorations, including King Abdulaziz Sash and the Order of Merit from the Egyptian Military Air Force.[65]

External links

|-|-

Notes and References

  1. Lacey gives his birth year as 1943.
    Book: Robert Lacey. Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia. 2011. Random House. 978-1-4464-7236-1. VII. New York. Robert Lacey.
  2. News: Profile: Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz. Asharq Al-Awsat. 2 February 2013.
  3. News: Simon Henderson. Who Will Be the Next King of Saudi Arabia?. The Washington Institute. 13 February 2013. 2 April 2013.
  4. News: Saudi Prince Muqrin named second-in-line to succeed king. Reuters. 27 March 2014. 27 March 2014.
  5. News: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz dies. BBC. 24 March 2022. 23 January 2015.
  6. News: Saudi King Salman appoints Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as new crown prince-state TV. Reuters. 29 April 2015.
  7. News: With Prince Muqrin's Appointment, Saudi Succession Crisis Looms. 12 February 2013. The Daily Beast. 3 February 2013.
  8. News: The Al Saud dynasty. Islam Daily. 16 May 2012. 6 July 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20131102082949/http://www.islamdaily.org/en/saudi-arabia/4565.the-al-saud-dynasty.htm. 2 November 2013.
  9. News: Iqbal Latif. Two Down and One to Go — Prince Salman will be the last of Sudairi Seven. 25 June 2012. Newsvine. 19 February 2013. 16 June 2012. https://archive.today/20130219023422/http://iqballatif.newsvine.mobi/_news/2012/06/16/12255694-two-down-and-one-to-go-prince-salman-will-be-the-last-of-sudairi-seven.
  10. News: Saudi royal dies. 29 November 2020. Gulf Business. 23 August 2018.
  11. News: Saudi king appoints his advisor as prime minister's second deputy. 1 February 2013. Al Arabiya. 1 February 2013.
  12. Web site: Simon Henderson. After King Fahd. Washington Institute. 1994. 2 February 2013. Policy Paper.
  13. Web site: Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz. Royal Embassy. 25 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150127073519/http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/CrownPrinceMuqrin.aspx. 27 January 2015.
  14. Gary Samuel Samore. Royal Family Politics in Saudi Arabia (1953-1982). Harvard University. 462. PhD. 1984. .
  15. Summer Scott Huyette. Political Adaptation in Saudi Arabia: A Study of the Council of Ministers. Columbia University. PhD. 1984. 103. .
  16. Web site: General President. General Intelligence Presidency. https://web.archive.org/web/20111108032331/http://www.gip.gov.sa/sites/english/AboutPresidency/Pages/AboutPresident.aspx. 24 May 2012. 8 November 2011.
  17. News: Abdulateef Al Mulhim. Prince Muqrin: A pilot, an astronomer and a politician. 6 April 2013. Arab News. 9 February 2013.
  18. Web site: Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Ayoub World News. 28 October 2011. 4 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204162439/http://www.charlesayoub.com/news/index.php/article/108/Prince%20Muqrin%20bin%20Abdul%20Aziz%20Al%20Saud. 24 May 2012.
  19. News: P.K. Abdul Ghafour. Arab News. Prince Muqrin New Intelligence Chief. 24 May 2012. 23 October 2005.
  20. News: Prince Miqrin Appointed President of General Intelligence. 10 February 2013. SAMIRAD. 22 October 2005.
  21. News: Saudis Appoint a New Chief of Intelligence. 5 August 2012. The New York Times. 23 October 2005. Reuters.
  22. Book: Anthony H. Cordesman. Khalid R. Al Rodhan. Gulf Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric Wars. 2007. Praeger. 978-0-275-99399-3. 235. Westport, CT; London.
  23. News: FACTBOX — Key players in the ruling Saudi family. 24 May 2012. Reuters. 22 November 2010.
  24. Book: 127. Anthony H. Cordesman. Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region. 2009. Praeger. Santa Barbara, CA. 978-0-3133-8076-1.
  25. News: Ellen Knickmeyer. Saudi Appointment Suggests Bigger Regional Ambitions. The Wall Street Journal. 20 July 2012. 20 July 2012.
  26. Web site: KSA: New Director for Spy Agency. Middle East Confidential. 20 July 2012. 20 July 2012.
  27. News: Saudi king names ex-U.S. envoy as intelligence chief. CNN. 19 July 2012. 20 July 2012.
  28. Web site: Talal Kapoor. The Return of Bandar bin Sultan. Datarabia. 9 August 2012. Commentary. 8 August 2012.
  29. News: Patrick Devenny. The List: The Middle East's Most Powerful Spooks. Foreign Policy. 24 May 2012. 20 July 2009.
  30. Encyclopedia: Nawaz Sharif. Encyclopædia Britannica. 10 May 2023.
  31. News: Musharraf allows rival to return to Pakistan. 24 November 2007. 6 April 2013. The Guardian.
  32. News: Former Pakistan Leader Sharif Desires Return. 6 April 2013. NPR. 7 June 2007.
  33. News: Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan. 25 November 2007. 6 April 2013. BBC.
  34. News: Saudi spy chief meets Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif. 24 May 2012. Daily Times. 16 August 2008.
  35. News: Saudi Arabia's Ailing Gerontocracy. 21 July 2013. David Ottaway. 1 December 2010. 20 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140420013801/http://www.davidottaway.com/?p=15.
  36. News: Saudis Said to Urge Iran Hit. 24 May 2012. Arab Times. 28 November 2011.
  37. News: Iranians seek to placate Saudi Arabia. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211231237/https://www.ft.com/content/992a19dc-2688-11e1-9ed3-00144feabdc0#axzz1vjWQ7sBA. 11 December 2022. subscription. live. 24 May 2012. Financial Times. 14 December 2011. Sylvia Pfeifer. Najmeh Bozorgmehr. Roula Khalaf.
  38. Book: Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud. 56. Emmy Abdul Alim. Global Leaders in Islamic Finance: Industry Milestones and Reflections. 2014. Wiley. 978-1-118-46524-0. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118638804.ch3. The Well of Influence. 10.1002/9781118638804.ch3 . Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud. Singapore.
  39. Monera Nahedh. The Sedentarization of a bedouin community in Saudi Arabia. PhD. June 1989. University of Leeds.
  40. Book: Giselle C. Bricault. Major Companies of the Arab World 1993/94. 1993. Springer. Dordrecht. 978-1-85333-894-6. 537. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1458-5_13. Saudi Arabia. 10.1007/978-94-011-1458-5_13.
  41. Web site: After Sultan: Saudi Crown Prince Incapacitation Trigger Instability of Absolute Monarchy. Institute for Gulf Affairs. April 13, 2011. Ali Al Ahmed. Logan Barclift.
  42. News: The awkward question of Saudi succession. MEED. 23 October 2011. 1 June 2012.
  43. Amir Taheri. Saudi Arabia: Between Terror and Reform. American Foreign Policy Interests. 2004. 26. 6. 457–465. 10.1080/10803920490905523. 154222715. Amir Taheri.
  44. Yoel Guzansky. A Game of Thrones: Royal Succession in Saudi Arabia. Strategic Assessment. January 2015. 17. 4. 10.
  45. News: Ian Bremmer. What happens after the death of a prince?. 21 July 2013. Foreign Policy. 19 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130412052218/http://eurasia.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/06/19/death_of_a_prince. 12 April 2013.
  46. Web site: Joshua Jacobs. Policy Brief: Saudi Crown Prince Serious Illness Complicates Succession Matters Again. Institute for Gulf Affairs. 6 March 2012.
  47. News: Saudi Arabia appoints Prince Muqrin as second deputy PM. 1 February 2013. Reuters. 1 February 2013.
  48. New appointment clarifies line of succession in Saudi Arabia. IHS Global Insight. 4 February 2013.
  49. David Roberts. Saudi Succession after the Death of Crown Prince Nayef. RUSI Analysis. 19 June 2012.
  50. News: Saudi king 'names brother deputy premier'. 1 February 2013. https://archive.today/20130216022715/http://www.france24.com/en/20130201-saudi-king-names-brother-deputy-premier. 16 February 2013. France 24. 1 February 2013.
  51. News: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Arrives in Riyadh coming from Rawdhat Khuraim. 22 April 2013. Arab News. 22 April 2013.
  52. Web site: Saudi Arabia: Prince Muqrin in Line for the Throne. Al-Monitor. Pulitzer Center. 2 March 2015.
  53. News: Saudi Arabia replaces crown prince in sweeping shake-up . Financial Times. Simeon Kerr . Farhan Bokhari . April 29, 2015.
  54. News: A Saudi Royal Shake-Up With a Goal of Stability. New York Times. April 30, 2015 . Ben Hubbard . Neil MacFarquhar.
  55. News: Saudi Arabia reshuffle as king appoints nephew to crown prince post. The Guardian. April 29, 2015. Associated Press.
  56. News: Social challenges as Saudis draw throne's future. Associated Press. Aya Batraw. April 11, 2014.
  57. News: Anuj Chopra. 'The Godfather, Saudi-style': inside the palace coup that brought MBS to power. The Guardian. 29 November 2022. 10 April 2024.
  58. News: David Ignatius. David Ignatius. The Khashoggi killing had roots in a cutthroat Saudi family feud. The Washington Post. 27 November 2018. 10 April 2024.
  59. Raphaeli Nimrod. Saudi Arabia: A brief guide to its politics and problems. MERIA. September 2003. 7. 3.
  60. King Abdullah dies, Salman's succession marks return of Sudairis. Gulf States Newsletter. 23 January 2015. 39. https://web.archive.org/web/20210601195432/https://www.crossborderinformation.com/sites/default/files/GSN%20985-Saudi-succession.pdf. 1 June 2021. 4.
  61. Web site: Family Tree of Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Datarabia. 5 August 2012.
  62. News: Suudi kralın pilot yeğeni gayrımenkul için geldi. (Pilot nephew of the King came Turkey for real-estate). 6 November 2011. 16 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120119021723/http://emlak.kanald.com.tr/haber/Dis_haberler/Suudi_kralin_pilot_yegeni_gayrimenkul_icin_geldi/15683.aspx. Milliyet. 19 January 2012.
  63. News: Members of Saudi Aviation Club Board of Directors Appointed. 30 June 2010. Jeddah. 6 April 2013. Saudi Press Agency.
  64. News: Saudi prince to resell Lebanese land after objections. Ya Libnan. 23 July 2012. 21 April 2013.
  65. Book: Who's Who in the Arab World 2007-2008. 2007. Publitec Publications. 978-3-598-07735-7. 718. 18th. 10.1515/9783110930047. Beirut .