Muqrin bin Abdulaziz

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Arabic: مقرن بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود‎; born 15 September 1945) is a member of House of Saud who served as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from January to April 2015. He was Director General of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah (Saudi Intelligence Agency) from 2005 to 2012. In July 2012, Muqrin was appointed King Abdullah's Advisor and Special Envoy with the rank of minister. On 1 February 2013, King Abdullah named him as Second Deputy Prime Minister, being the fifth Saudi royal to hold this position.[1] This post was previously held by King Fahd, King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan, and Crown Prince Nayef.[1] On 27 March 2014, he was named Deputy Crown Prince making him second in the line of succession behind his brother Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.[2] On 23 January 2015, upon King Abdullah's death and the accession of King Salman, Muqrin became Crown Prince[3] and First Deputy Prime Minister. Only three months later, on 29 April 2015, King Salman replaced Prince Muqrin with Prince Muhammad bin Nayef as Crown Prince who was also replaced in 2017 by the King's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.[4]

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia First Deputy Prime Minister
In office	23 January 2015 – 29 April 2015
Predecessor	Salman
Successor	Muhammad bin Nayef
Monarch	Salman
Director General of Saudi Intelligence Agency
In office	October 2005 – 19 July 2012
Predecessor	Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz
Successor	Bandar bin Sultan
Monarch	Abdullah
Governor of Madinah Province
In office	1999–2005
Predecessor	Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz
Successor	Abdulaziz bin Majid
Monarch	Fahd
Governor of Hail Province
In office	1980–1999
Successor	Saud bin Abdul Muhsin
Monarch	Khalid Fahd
Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Second Deputy Prime Minister
In Office	March 27, 2014 – 23 January 2015
Predecessor	Salman bin Abdulaziz as second deputy prime minister
Successor	Muhammad bin Nayef as deputy crown prince & second deputy prime minister
Monarch	Abdullah
Born	(1945-09-15) 15 September 1945 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Spouse	Abta bint Hamoud Al Rashid
Issue	Mudahawi Sara Mishail Abta Nuf Lamiya Jawahir Fahd Abdul Aziz Faisal Turki Mansur Bandar
Full name Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
House	House of Saud
Father	Abdulaziz
Mother	Baraka Al Yamaniyah

Styles of Prince Muqrin
Reference style	His Royal Highness
Spoken style	Your Royal Highness

Early life

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz was born in Riyadh on 15 September 1945,[5][6] or 1943.[7] He is the 35th and, following the death of his younger half-brother Hamoud in 1994, the youngest surviving son of Ibn Saud.[1][8][9] His mother, Baraka Al Yamaniyah, was a Yemeni of African descent[10][11][12] and was concubine of Ibn Saud.[5]

Education

Muqrin studied at the Riyadh Model Institute.[1] He, then, went to Britain's RAF College in Cranwell and graduated with a degree in aeronautics at the rank of flight lieutenant in 1968.[1][13] He also received a diploma, equivalent to a master's degree, from the General Staff course in the United States in 1974.[1]

Career

Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz during his service in the Saudi Royal Air Force (RSAF)

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz was an air force pilot.[14] In 1965, he joined the Saudi Royal Air Force (RSAF).[15] 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.[1] He then was elevated to president of operations and planning for the RSAF.[16] He left the RSAF in 1980.[15]

Governorship

On 18 March 1980, King Khalid appointed Prince Muqrin as governor of Hail and his tenure lasted until 1999.[17] On 24 November 1999, he was appointed governor of Madinah Province as a successor to his late brother, Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz.[17] King Fahd later ordered him to modernize the city in response to a wave of anti-government and anti-royalty demonstrations during Hajj.[16] Prince Muqrin developed the education and health care services offered in remote regions.[18] Considered a traditionalist, Prince Muqrin worked to promote traditional values during his appointments as governor.[16] 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.[17][19][21][22] His appointment occurred nine months after the resignation of the former director general Prince Nawwaf.[22][23]

Prince Muqrin organized a conference on combating internet militancy, particularly used by al Qaeda in 2007.[24] He further declared that Al Mukhabarat al A'amah would set a website to inform citizens about threats to security. He also stated that the organization would be restructured to combat with AQAP.[25] He successfully expelled Islamist militants from Saudi Arabia.[26] On 19 July 2012, Prince Muqrin was relieved from his post and replaced by Bandar bin Sultan.[27] It was argued by media that Prince Muqrin had been criticized during his term due to his approach towards some sensitive issues.[28] On the other hand, Prince Muqrin was named advisor at the rank of minister and a special envoy to King Abdullah the same day.[27][29] His responsibility was stated to be the affairs in southeast Asia.[30]

Activities

Prince Muqrin played an active role in Pakistani politics during his term at the Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.[21] 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.[31] 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.[32][33] However, Sharif was quickly deported from Pakistan and was greeted by Muqrin bin Abdulaziz at the Jeddah airport.[34] Prince Muqrin was also involved in political reconciliation efforts in Pakistan.[35][36]

On the other hand, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and 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.[37] 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.[38]

Succession

Main article: Succession to the Saudi Arabian throne

Eligibility

Prince Muqrin was considered to be one of the candidates for accession to the throne since he has governmental experience[39][40][41] although his maternal line was seen as a factor curtailing his chance in this regard.[24]

The Prince is said to be much appreciated by the Saudi public because he has never been known for corruption or other negative activities[42] and was considered to be one of King Abdullah's long-time allies.[43]

He is also believed by many to be a liberal within the family.[26][44] However, letter exchanges regarding the Shia in the Eastern Province illustrated an interesting opposition between Muqrin and Crown Prince Nayef. The letters discussed how a situation involving Shia instigation in the Eastern Province should have been handled. In these exchanges, Prince Muqrin argued for a much stronger and harsher approach, but he was vetoed by Crown Prince Nayef.[44]

Second Deputy Prime Minister

Prince Muqrin was appointed as Second Deputy Prime Minister by King Abdullah on 1 February 2013,[45] although he was not seen as a potential contender for the post by analysts.[26][46] This post, which had been vacant since October 2011, is regarded as second in line to the Saudi throne.[45][47] 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.[45] 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.[48]

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.[49]

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.[2]

Crown Prince

Prince Muqrin became Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and First Deputy Prime Minister on 23 January 2015.[3] After a tenure of barely three months, he was relieved of his position as Crown Prince on 29 April 2015.[4]

Personal life

Prince Muqrin is married to Abta bint Hamoud Al Rashid.[50] She was president of the Women's Council when Prince Muqrin was Madinah governor.[50]

He has 14 children.[51] His daughters are Mudahawi, Sara, Mishail, Abta, Nuf, Lamiya, Jawahir, and Sara. His sons are Fahd bin Muqrin, Abdul Aziz, Faysal, Turki, Mansour (died 2017), and Bandur.[51] Prince Turki founded a real-estate company in Turkey. He is a pilot and CEO of Rabigh Wings Aviation Academy in Jeddah.[52] Prince Turki is also board member of the Saudi Aviation Club.[53]

His son Prince Mansour, Deputy Governor of Asir Province passed away in a helicopter crash near the Yemeni border in November 2017 aged forty-three.

Muqrin bin Abdulaziz is said to enjoy astronomy, literature and Arabic poetry and has a large library containing thousands of books.[17]

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.[54]

Ancestors of Muqrin bin Abdulaziz

16. Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad 8. Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud 17. Hia bint Hamad bin Ali Al Faqih Angari Tamimi 4. Abdul Rahman bin Faisal 18. Mishari bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Saud 9. Sarah bint Mishari bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Saud 2. Abdulaziz Ibn Saud 20. Mohammed bin Turki bin Suleiman Al Sudairi 10. Ahmed Al Kabir bin Mohammed bin Turki Al Sudairi 5. Sarah bint Ahmed al-Kabir bin Mohammed Al Sudairi 1. Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 3. Baraka Al Yamaniyah

References

1. "Profile: Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz". Asharq Alawsat. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
2. "Saudi Prince Muqrin named second-in-line to succeed king". Reuters. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
3. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz dies BBC. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
4. "Saudi King Salman appoints Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as new crown prince-state TV". Reuters. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
5. Iqbal Latif (16 June 2012). "Two Down and One to Go — Prince Salman will be the last of Sudairi Seven!". Newsvine. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
6. "With Prince Muqrin's Appointment, Saudi Succession Crisis Looms". The Daily Beast. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
7. Lacey, Robert. Inside the Kingdom. Random House. p. VII. ISBN 9781446472361. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
8. Abdullah Al Harthi; Khaled Al Faris (2 February 2013). "Proud of trust reposed in me by King: Muqrin". Saudi Gazette. Jeddah and Riyadh. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
9. Henderson, Simon (13 February 2013). "Who Will Be the Next King of Saudi Arabia?". The Washington Institute. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
10. "With Prince Muqrin's Appointment, Saudi Succession Crisis Looms". The Daily Beast. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
11. "The Al Saud dynasty". Islam Daily. 6 July 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
12. Simon Henderson (August 2009). "After King Abdullah" (Policy Paper). Washington Institute. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
13. "Saudi king appoints his advisor as prime minister's second deputy". Al Arabiya. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
14. Simon Henderson (1994). "After King Fahd" (Policy Paper). Washington Institute. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
15. "Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz". Royal Embassy. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
16. "Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud". C. Ayoub World News. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
17. "General President". General Intelligence Presidency. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
18. Abdulateef Al Mulhim (9 February 2013). "Prince Muqrin: A pilot, an astronomer and a politician". Arab News. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
19. P.K. Abdul Ghafour (23 October 2005). "Prince Muqrin New Intelligence Chief". Arab News. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
20. "Prince Miqrin Appointed President Of General Intelligence". SAMIRAD. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
21. Devenny, Patrick (20 July 2009). "The List: The Middle East's Most Powerful Spooks". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
22. "Saudis Appoint a New Chief of Intelligence". The New York Times. Reuters. 23 October 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
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25. Cordesman, Anthony H. (2009). Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
26. "New appointment clarifies line of succession in Saudi Arabia". IHS Global Insight. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
27. Ellen Knickmeyer (20 July 2012). "Saudi Appointment Suggests Bigger Regional Ambitions". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
28. "KSA: New Director for Spy Agency". Middle East Confidential. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
29. "Saudi king names ex-U.S. envoy as intelligence chief". CNN. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
30. Talal Kapoor (8 August 2012). "The Return of Bandar bin Sultan" (Commentary). Datarabia. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
31. "Nawaz Sharif". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
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33. "Former Pakistan Leader Sharif Desires Return". NPR. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
34. "Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan". BBC. 25 November 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
35. "Saudi spy chief meets Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif". Daily Times. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
36. "Saudi Arabia's Ailing Gerontocracy". David Ottoway. 1 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
37. "Saudis Said To Urge Iran Hit". Arab Times. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
38. Sylvia Pfeifer; Najmeh Bozorgmehr; Roula Khalaf (14 December 2011). "Iranians seek to placate Saudi Arabia". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
39. Ali Al Ahmed; Logan Barclift. "After Sultan: Saudi Crown Prince Incapacitation Trigger Instability of Absolute Monarchy". Institute for Gulf Affairs. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
40. "The awkward question of Saudi succession". MEED. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
41. Taheri, Amir (2004). "Saudi Arabia: Between Terror and Reform" (PDF). American Foreign Policy Interests. 26: 457–465. doi:10.1080/10803920490905523. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
42. "Revolution Against the Backdrop of Succession in Saudi Arabia". Moroccan World Views. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
43. Bremmer, Ian (19 June 2012). "What happens after the death of a prince?". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
44. Jacobs, Joshua (6 March 2012). "Royal Pains". Institute for Gulf Affairs. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
45. "Saudi Arabia appoints Prince Muqrin as second deputy PM". Reuters. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
46. Roberts, David (19 June 2012). "Saudi Succession after the Death of Crown Prince Nayef". RUSI Analysis. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
47. "Saudi king 'names brother deputy premier'". France 24. 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
48. "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Arrives in Riyadh coming from Rawdhat Khuraim". Arab News. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
49. "Saudi Arabia: Prince Muqrin in Line for the Throne - Pulitzer Center". Pulitzer Center. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
50. Raphaeli Nimrod (September 2003). "Saudi Arabia: A brief guide to its politics and problems". MERIA. 7 (3). Retrieved 6 April 2013.
51. "Family Tree of Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud". Datarabia. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
52. "Suudi kralın pilot yeğeni gayrımenkul için geldi. (Pilot nephew of the King came Turkey for real-estate)". Milliyet. 6 November 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
53. "Members of Saudi Aviation Club Board of Directors Appointed". Saudi Press Agency. Jeddah. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
54. "Saudi prince to resell Lebanese land after objections". Ya Libnan. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2013.

External links

Saudi Arabian royalty
Preceded by Salman	Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia 23 January 2015 – 29 April 2015	Succeeded by Muhammad bin Nayef
Political offices
Preceded by Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ash-Shaikh	Governor of Hail Province 1980–1999	Succeeded by Saud bin Abdul Muhsin
Preceded by Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud	Governor of Madinah Province 1999–2005	Succeeded by Abdulaziz bin Majid
Preceded by Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz	President of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah 2005–2012	Succeeded by Bandar bin Sultan
Preceded by Office established	Saudi Arabian Special Envoy 2012–2015	Succeeded by Saud bin Faisal
Preceded by Nayef bin Abdulaziz	Second Deputy Prime Minister 2013–2015	Succeeded by Muhammad bin Nayef
Preceded by Salman bin Abdulaziz	First Deputy Prime Minister Jan.-Apr.2015	Succeeded by Muhammad bin Nayef