ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the royal succession in the House of Saud. The Saudi royal family is not just the sons and grandsons of Abdul Aziz, but also the descendants of the extended clan. Khalid bin Abdul Aziz al-Tuwaijri, from an important Nejdi family long associated with Abdullah, was removed from his positions as Chief of Royal Court and Private Advisor to the king. The line of succession does not go beyond the family of Abdul Aziz and is estimated to be 30-plus sons, 100-plus grandsons and 500-plus great grandsons. During Abdullah al-Hamed’s rule, the National Guard was favoured with increased training and weapons. Mitaeb controls a powerful force, although he is sidelined as a candidate in the line of succession to the throne. A pattern of unravelling the legacy of Abdullah can be discerned behind the shuffling at the top of the Saudi establishment.
