There is a sense the increasingly frail King Abdullah has been getting his house in order. He has made a string of appointments, several of which have seen the rise of competent younger members of the ruling family. Mohammed Bin Nayef was the first of the next generation to get a top post when he was named interior minister in November 2012, and others – such as Bandar Bin Sultan (head of the General Intelligence Directorate) and Miqrin Bin Abdelaziz (second deputy premier) – have also moved up the ranks.
Subscribe to Gulf States Newsletter