SAUDI ARABIA: A BRIEF GUIDE TO ITS POLITICS AND PROBLEMS By Nimrod Raphaeli*
This article examines the familial structure of the Saudi ruling oligarchy and considers this regime’s performance given the economic and demographic challenges it faces.
Oligarchy is a form of government where a billion in 1981 to $186.5 billion in 2001, few rule the many. In Saudi Arabia, the the average GDP per capita shrunk roughly few are predominantly royal male princes 2.5 percent per year.(2) In fact, the per who are all descended from the founder of capita GDP was worse in 1999 than it was the modern Saudi kingdom, King Abd al- in 1965 before the massive rise in the price Aziz who, upon his death in 1953, left of oil.(3) Even the Saudi press has noted behind 44 sons (and an uncounted number how, in nominal terms, GDP per capita of daughters) by 17 wives. Today, Saudi went from $10,330 in 1989 to $7,743 in Arabia’s ruling structure is capped by a 2001.(4) unique, almost unprecedented, form of Additionally, a review of the Saudi oligarchy, whose members are connected economy by the International Monetary through a bloodline to Saudi Arabia's Fund indicates that, with the exception of polygamous founder. The princes have the year 2000, in which the overall central treated the country's wealth of oil and government budget registered a sharp minerals as their personal domain and turnaround due largely to a rise in oil made themselves famous for their prices, "in every other year, the budget has extravagant life style. Some princes have run a deficit and the debt stock has run up accumulated enormous personal wealth; to $170 billion, which is equal to the size with King Fahd bin Abd al-Aziz, the of GDP."(5) (By comparison, in the reigning monarch, topping the list with a European Union, the ratio of public debt to personal fortune estimated at $20 GDP is restricted to 60 percent.) Given the billion.(1) lack of discipline by many princes and a This particular system has important bloated bureaucracy, these issues are not implications for Saudi society, politics, and likely to be solved quickly. policies. It is also a central consideration Beyond the poor financial management for pondering any future reform or by the ruling elite, this section examines development in the country. the major systemic problems of the Saudi economy, including its dependence on oil, ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND its population explosion, and its massive PERFORMANCE unemployment. As the princes have grown richer, the people of Saudi Arabia have grown poorer. The Dependence on Oil While gross domestic product (GDP) grew Saudi Arabia is an oil-based economy at an average of 1.25 percent per year with strong government control over major between 1981 and 2001, from $155.1 economic activities. The petroleum sector Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September, 2003) 21 Nimrod Raphaeli accounts for roughly 75 percent of budget prices have already fallen roughly $5 per revenues, 45 percent of GDP, and 90 barrel.(9) percent of export earnings. Indeed, only about 25 percent of GDP comes from the The Economy’s Non-Oil Tax Base private sector. Saudi Arabia’s economy The non-oil government revenues are remains, despite attempts at diversification, constrained by a largely non-competitive heavily dependent on the production and market place where monopolies and export of oil. “exclusive dealerships” are dominated by A strong rebound in oil prices beginning members of the royal family and their in the latter part of 2002 and the beginning cohorts, and usually they do not generate of 2003 provided a little relief for the Saudi revenues for the government in the form of economy. According to a Saudi Arabia sales or income tax. While some Monetary Authority (SAMA) report, the monopolies and single dealerships control Kingdom’s revenues from oil in 2002 large segments of the market, they are reached $54.4 billion or 30 percent over the protected by the Shari’a (Islamic law) from budgeted revenues. However, actual paying taxes on their earnings. Rather, spending has also exceeded budgeted they are required to make a voluntary expenditures by 11 percent, reaching $60 contribution of 2.5 percent in the form of billion, up from a projected $53.9 zakat (religious charity) to organizations or billion.(6) The rise in oil prices preceding groups or individuals of their choice. the war in Iraq was a temporary rise, This religious protection of the rich and however, and so will not dramatically alter the powerful deprives the government of the revenue figures, nor provide long- vital sources of income to address the lasting relief for burgeoning public debt. In social and economic needs of the majority other words, the long-term health of the of the people. The result is a skewed economy still requires a measure of fiscal income distribution and the growth of discipline, which the Saudis have so far extensive poverty and deprivation. Despite failed to exercise. growing social needs, Khalid al-Qusaibi, In fact, in the long-term, oil prices will the Saudi minister of planning has recently likely suffer as Iraq reenters the export confirmed that the Saudi Government will market at eventually higher levels than not introduce the income tax to reduce the during the period of UN sanctions, since it burden of the national debt or redistribute possesses the world’s second largest oil national wealth.(10) reserves. It could increase its exports from the two million barrels a day (mbd) Population Growth produced at the end of Saddam Hussein’s While GDP went from $155.1 billion in regime to 3.5 mbd within 18 months, and 1981 to $186.5 billion in 2001, the has a reasonable potential to produce 6 population grew from 9.9 million in 1981 mbd in 3 to 5 years.(7) While Saudi Arabia to 21.4 million in 2001, an increase of 54 produced 8.7 mbd in 2002 (11.8 percent of percent. Thus, while economic growth has the world market), total global production averaged 1.25 percent annually, the is only about 74 mbd.(8) And from the population has increased by about 3.67 Saudi perspective, even a reduction of $10 percent per annum.(11) The UN has in the price of a barrel of oil would mean a estimated that the rate of population growth loss of revenues of about $70 million a in Saudi Arabia in the years 1975-1999 day, or a loss of approximately $25 billion was at an even higher rate of 4.2 percent, on an annual basis. Since the beginning of making it one of the highest in the the war in Iraq until the end of May, oil world.(12)
22 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) Saudi Arabia: A Brief Guide to its Politics and Problems
According to Dr. Wadi’ Ahmad Fadhil, suggest, though this is not a popular idea in a professor of economics at King Abd al- Saudi Arabia, that some form of Aziz University, the kingdom has been “population rationalization” may become facing a population explosion since the inevitable. (19) early 1990s which will remain at about the same rate through the 2030s. At this rate, Unemployment the population will double every 20 years Unemployment figures in most from 20 million in 2000 to 40 million in developing countries are unreliable. There 2020.(13) are no official employment agencies which There are several causes for this register work seekers on a regular basis and tremendous population growth. The first is governments may be reluctant to make that infant death rates in the Kingdom have known the extent of the problem. Saudi plummeted over the past 20 years. From 65 Arabia is no exception. A Saudi newspaper deaths per 1000 live births in 1980, Saudi speculates that while the unemployment Arabia had dropped to 19 per 1000 by rate is estimated at 20 percent it could be as 1999--one of the lowest in the Arab world high as 30 percent. The irony of the and under half the regional average.(14) situation is that the Saudis employ 6 to 7 Likewise, life expectancy in Saudi Arabia, million foreign workers, including 3 which was 61 in 1980, had risen to 72 by million maids and drivers. 1999 (from two years under the world The foreign workers transfer, primarily average to six years above it).(15) to their home countries, 50 billion Saudi Clearly, these improvements are largely riyals ($13.3 billion) annually.(20) To the fruit of Saudi investment in the health reduce the number of expatriate workers, care system. The Kingdom currently the government has recently decreed that spends approximately $890 per person on 24 categories of employment will be health care expenses, the third highest in restricted to Saudi applicants.(21) Minister the region after Israel ($1,730) and the of Interior Prince Naif, who is in charge of UAE ($1,495), and is twice as high as the foreign labor, has decreed that foreign region’s fourth biggest spender (Lebanon workers and their family members should at $430).(16) However, as a portion of total not exceed 20 percent of the Saudi GDP (which tells what percent of the oil population in 2013.(22) revenue goes to health), Saudi Arabia was To deal with the problem of in the middle for the region with 8 percent unemployment the Saudi government has of GDP, following Lebanon (9.8 percent), allowed the civil service and the public Israel (9.5), Jordan (9.1), the PA (8.6), and sector to hire Saudis for nonexistent jobs, the UAE (8.2).(17) turning government agencies into a vast Despite all these improvements in social welfare system. As a result, Dr. Abd health care, the country has been unwilling al-Rahman al-Shaqqawi, director of the to seriously tackle the issue of family Saudi Institute of Public Administration, planning and birth control in order to rein has estimated that $28.5 billion, 65 percent in population growth. The average woman of the Saudi annual budget, is earmarked still has 5.4 children, though this has for salaries and that proportion is bound to dropped from 5.7 in 1997.(18) One Saudi increase.(23) analyst, Muhammad Abd al-Latif al- Poverty is one of the immediate Sheikh, foresees a very serious problem in manifestations of unemployment. In Saudi terms of water supply for this burgeoning Arabia, poverty is reflected in high population. This conclusion led him to population growth, in poor housing and
Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) 23
Nimrod Raphaeli inadequate social services. To dramatize continues to rule formally as king and the problem of poverty in Saudi Arabia, prime minister to the present day, although Crown Prince Abdallah toured homes of real power is vested in his half-brother, poor people in Riyadh for an hour and a Crown Prince Abdallah. half. He called on the wealthy people of The heir to the Saudi throne is selected Saudi Arabia to do more for the poor, by the royal family through a secretive which, as will be discussed later, is the process. The chosen heir is given the title Saudi way of addressing urgent social of "crown prince" and holds the position of issues. A striking manifestation of poverty first vice minister in the king's cabinet until is the large and growing number of street such time as he becomes king. Presently, beggars. According to published data, the Prince Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz is the number of arrested Saudi street beggars, crown prince. Should he become king, he both male and female has been on the would be the fifth son of the family increase. Most alarming is the number of patriarch, bin Sa'ud, to succeed to the beggars who are children. A Saudi throne. journalist complains about “convoys of The central figures of the oligarchy are human beings who arrive every day… who the "Sudairi seven" which comprise King could be a source of danger to the citizen Fahd and six of his brothers whose mother and the security of the land.” The author, was Hassa bint Ahmad al-Sudairi. Crown Salwa abu Mideen, complains that beggars Prince Abdallah is a half-brother to the search the garbage cans, which cause “the seven whose mother was al-Fadha bint Asi spread of bad odors, flies and al-Shuraim. The Sudairi seven comprise: mosquitoes.”(24) At the same time, the elite has a very Fahd bin Abd King and Prime high standard of living. In 2002, the Saudis al-Aziz Minister charged $19 billion against their Visa credit cards, an increase of 23 percent over Sultan bin Abdul- Second Vice the previous year. The average annual Aziz Minister and charges were $8700 per card.(25) The Minister of Defense kingdom imports more than 275,000 cars a and Aviation year at a cost of 41 billion riyals ($10.9 billion), in addition to spare parts at a cost Abd al-Rahmam bin Vice Minister of of 9 billion riyals ($2.4 billion).(26) It is Abd al-Aziz Defense revealing that Saudi Arabia is perhaps the only country in which Mercedes cars are Na'if bin Abd al- Minister of Interior advertised as gift items. Aziz
THE STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF Ahmad bin Abd al- Vice Minister of THE SAUDI OLIGARCHY Aziz Interior Modern Saudi Arabia was founded by King Abd al-Aziz in 1932. Since his death Salman bin Abd al- Governor of Riyadh in 1953, the throne has been held Aziz successively by four of his sons. The crown first passed to the eldest son, Sa'ud, who Turki bin Abd al- Businessman, lives was succeeded by Faisal in 1964. Khalid Aziz in Cairo succeeded Faisal when the latter was assassinated by a nephew in 1975; Khalid was succeeded in 1982 by Fahd who
24 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) Saudi Arabia: A Brief Guide to its Politics and Problems
Based on extensive examination of two Mut’ib, Turki and Abd al-Aziz serve in Saudi dailies--Okaz and al-Riyadh-- a various senior capacities in the National number of charts with the names of the Guard and hence under their father. The various princes in senior government and separation of the National Guard from the other positions have been pieced together. ministry of defense is intended to avoid the The charts cover most of the highest concentration of too much military power echelons of government. They include 103 in the hands of any of the leading princes. princes (and one princess), in addition to the king, who are often mentioned in the Chart II: Royal Members of the Cabinet dailies in connection with their duties or Chart II (see Appendix, Chart II) activities, such as attending receptions or provides information on the ministerial receiving or bidding goodbye to a senior positions in the cabinet held by the princes. member of the royal family or foreign The cabinet comprises 24 ministers (with dignitaries. Others may be mentioned in portfolios) and 8 state ministers. The three connection with medical treatment abroad. key ministries, foreign affairs, defense and Some names appeared in special notes of interior are held by senior figures of the gratitude and appreciation when one or royal family. The minister of foreign more of the leading princes offered affairs, Prince Faisal, is the son of the late condolences to a bereaved family, normally King Sa’ud, and thus a nephew of the a wealthy and/or important family which reigning king. The defense and interior can afford to pay for "thank you notes" ministries are held by members of the which cover an entire page in one of the Sudairi seven, Sultan in defense and Na’if Saudi dailies. in interior, both brothers of the king. The charts provide visual evidence of Below the ministers’ level are a number the pervasiveness of the Saudi royal of princes who are the children or close oligarchy over all ruling positions of the relatives of the ministers themselves. In the Saudi kingdom. The charts provide a ministry of foreign affairs, the most picture of the extent to which an oligarchy important diplomatic post--ambassador to of a little over 100 princes, related by the United States--is held by Prince blood and accountable only to themselves, Bandar, the son of the previously control the lives and well being of 22 mentioned defense minister, Prince Sultan. million Saudis. In the recent cabinet reshuffle, Prince Bandar was given the rank of minister, Chart I: The King and his Deputies though keeping his position as ambassador Chart I (see Appendix, Chart I) to the United States. represents the apex of the political-military Prince Bandar bin Sultan is not just any establishment with King Fahd at the top other ambassador. He is responsible for followed by his two brothers, Abdallah, as maintaining the vast and intricate relations crown prince, vice minister and between his country and United States at commander of the National Guard, and the highest levels. His access to high- Sultan, as the second vice minister, and ranking U.S. officials has no equal in minister of defense and aviation. Fahd’s Washington. Recent discussion about own son, Abd al-Aziz is a state minister for succession in Saudi Arabia has focused on cabinet affairs and a gatekeeper to the king. Prince Bandar being elevated to a high Two half-brothers, Turki and Badr, serve position in Riyadh should the leadership as the deputies to the commander of the decide to skip over his father, Prince National Guard. Three of Abdallah’s sons, Sultan, as the next crown prince if
Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) 25
Nimrod Raphaeli
Abdallah were to become king. The two other ministries, petroleum and promotion of Prince Bandar is said to planning. In the ministry of petroleum, the compensate his father (one of the vice minister is Prince Abd al-Aziz, the son wealthiest men in Saudi Arabia. His wealth of Prince Salman who is the governor of is derived from commissions on vast the important governorate of Riyadh and military procurements).(27) The one of the Sudairi seven. In the ministry of ambassador to the United Kingdom, Prince planning the vice minister is Prince Faisal, Turki, is the son of the late King Faisal, the son of Prince Sultan. and thus the brother of Turki al-Faisal, the Two significant ministries--finance and Saudi Ambassador to the U.K. Two other petroleum--have always been under non- princes occupy the two most senior civil royal technocrats. In the case of the service posts in the ministry of foreign ministry of finance, a non-royal minister is affairs, including that of the first secretary- perhaps intended to prevent any of the general and the director general of leading princes from controlling the inspection, and both are nephews of the enormous finances of the kingdom. In any king. case, the minister of finance does not have In the ministry of defense, the second the stature to stand up to any of the senior most important position below that of the princes. While the kingdom has a budget minister himself is held by another member approved by the cabinet, there appears to of the Sudairi seven, Abd al-Rahman be no strict control over expenditures, if (Sultan’s brother) who serves as vice judged by the frequency with which the minister. A minister’s son, Khaled, serves king or one of the senior princes makes as assistant minister while his half brother, donations to causes big or small. Nawaf, occupies the powerful position of Nevertheless, a technocrat minister at the director of central intelligence (previously treasury guarantees a semblance of occupied by the minister’s nephew, the accountability. In the case of the ministry aforementioned Prince Turki.) of petroleum, major decisions regarding The ministry of interior is a powerful production and pricing are made by the ministry because it controls the 13 king or his vice minister, the crown prince. governorates of the country. Both the minister, Na’if, and his vice minister, Chart III: The Structure of the Sub- Ahmad, are members of the Sudairi seven. National Government The minister’s son, Muhammad, serves as (See Appendix, Chart III) Saudi Arabia the assistant minister. is comprised of 13 governorates (imarat), The possibilities for favoritism in the each headed by a governor (amir) with the granting of government contracts are rank of a minister. All the governors report enormous. A half-brother of King Fahd, to the minister of interior, Prince Na'if. Prince Mut’ib, serves as a minister for Many of the governors are either brothers public works and housing, while his half- of the minister of interior or his nephews, brother, Prince Ahmad, is his vice minister. and all of them are princes, though some The ministry of public works is an with no direct blood link to the house of important economic ministry with control Saud. The most senior of the governors is over a large amount of money. Prince the governor of Riyadh, Prince Salman bin Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki is the Abd al-Aziz who is one of the Sudairi governor of the investment authority with seven. The other half-brothers of the the rank of minister. He is a grandson of minister of interior are the governors of al- Ibn Saud’s first son, Turki, who died in Hudud al-Shamaliyah, al-Madinah, and 1919. Princes serve as vice ministers in Jizan. The minister’s nephews occupy the
26 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) Saudi Arabia: A Brief Guide to its Politics and Problems governorates in al-Baha, al-Sharqiyah, Princes also head sports and youth Asair, Najran and Tabouk. Most of the organizations as well as a variety of governors have royal deputies. medical societies. All the princes listed are males, which is hardly surprising in the Chart IV: Princes in Other Senior conservative Saudi society. The sole Positions exception is Princess Abta bin Hamoud al- Chart IV (see Appendix, Chart IV) lists Rashid, president of the Women's Council, royal princes in a variety of senior who is the wife of Prince Muqrin, the positions in the sub-national governor of Madina. administration, the military establishment, youth, women and sport, medical societies Royal Donations to Address Social and and business. Particular mention should be Economic Problems made of Prince Mash’al bin Majid bin Having a patriarchal and proprietary Abdul al-Aziz, the governor of the district view of the country--and drawing scant of Jeddah (and the son of Prince Abdul distinction between the private and the Majid bin Abdul Aziz, the governor of public domain--the royal oligarchy looks Mecca), Prince Sultan bin Salman, upon the Saudi people as subjects merely secretary general of the Tourism authority deserving of royal charity rather than as the and the son of Prince Salman, the governor true owners of the country. Thus, instead of of Riyadh. addressing social problems as a public In the military establishment, besides obligation requiring state action, the royal the minister of defense and air force Prince oligarchy in Saudi Arabia individualizes Sultan, princes are commanders of the the solutions by making royal grants navy, air force, armored corps, National designed to enhance the gratitude and the Guard and a variety of air bases, including loyalty of the citizenry to their patrons. The Prince Abdallah Air Base, named after the absence of an income tax and the reliance Crown Prince. on zakat enhances this personalized and In business and publishing, princes individualized form of social policy. control the two major Saudi dailies, al- To illustrate this point, the following are Hayat and al-Sharq al-Awsat, both but a few examples of royal grants made to published in London. Princes also control address broad social (and medical) issues some of the largest business and the spread of Islam outside the establishments, al-Mara’i, Arab Electronics kingdom: and the largest cement company, Qusaim Cement Company. Many princes lend their --King Fahd donated 5.8 million riyals names and connections to business ($1.54 million) to an Islamic enterprises or they control “exclusive university.(28) dealerships”--the monopolistic form of --King Fahd donated 100 million riyals trade that allows an individual the ($20 million) to establish a national center exclusive rights to import a particular for the treatment of breast cancer.(29) commodity. Many of these --Prince Sultan (Minister of Defense) princes/businessmen do not operate under donated 15 million riyals ($4 million) for the limelight like their political cousins, the construction of a liver department in and hence we have little information about the armed forces hospital and another 60 their activities. An exception, however, is million riyal ($16 million) for its Prince Walid bin Talal, a billionaire prince. equipment.(30)
Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) 27
Nimrod Raphaeli
--Prince Sultan donated 19 million riyals princes. In it, they called for halting the ($5 million) for the construction and waste of public money, convening a equipping of a kidney department in the conference for reconciliation and dialogue, armed forces hospital.(31) reforming the judicial system, granting --Prince Sultan’s City for Human Services equal rights to women, abolishing opened in Riyadh on October 30, 2002. It restrictions on travel and preventing arrests was financed by Prince Sultan’s charitable without a trial. Above all, they called for foundation at a cost of 1.2 billion riyals the Saudi parliament to be elected by the ($320 million).(32) people.(36) --Prince Fahd bin Sultan (Governor of In early 2002 a Saudi daily published an Tabuk) undertook the cost of extending article entitled: “The Time has Come for power lines to al-Assafiya village and paid the Reform of State Institutions.” The the electric bills for 3 years.(33) thrust of the article was the need to tell the --Prince Muhammad bin Fahd, Governor of facts. The time of denials, the article said, Sharqiya, donated land for a large housing has passed and the time has come to tell the project for the needy.(34) truth. It is time “to draw the sword of --Princess Sara (wife of Prince Abdul conscience in the face of the lazy and Majid bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Mecca) crooks.”(37) donated 1 million riyals ($266,000) to a Perhaps most disturbing for the Saudi psychiatric hospital in Mecca. leadership are the voices of dissent emanating from their Shi’a minority, which The government-controlled newspapers, accounts for 20 percent of the Saudi which report on these royal donations, population. Most of them reside in the oil- never question the source of the money. If rich eastern part of the country. One of the it is public money why is it offered as main leaders of the Shi’a community, donations, and if they are private donations Sheikh Hassan al-Saffar, complained about how can government officials, and often job and ethnic discrimination. The Shi’a, their spouses, display such largesse unless he said, are not allowed to serve their their access to public money is country in the defense, security and unrestricted? diplomatic fields. They are denied the right to observe their religious rituals and an VOICES OF DISSENT official prohibition exists on the publishing Voices of opposition to the oligarchy or importing of books related to the Shi’a. are beginning to appear. The minister of In general, al-Saffar said, the Shi’a economic affairs, Muhammad bin Abdul- community feels a sense of Aziz Al-Sheikh, a scion of one of the most marginalization.(38) distinguished families in the kingdom, Yet despite all these issues, the existing tendered his resignation in early 2003. In it, system seems strong enough to sustain he expressed his disappointment regarding itself, though possibly against rising the failure of economic reforms, the waste dissent, precisely because of its of public money and the absence of plans interlocking control mechanisms, ways of for economic growth based on justice and relieving the pressure, high degree of wellbeing for the people. The resignation control, and massive infusions of oil was not accepted.(35) However, he was not money. included in the new cabinet announced by King Fahd at the end of April. *Nimrod Raphaeli received his Ph.D. in In April 2003, 100 politicians and development planning from the University academics sent a letter to the senior of Michigan. He has spent most of his
28 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) Saudi Arabia: A Brief Guide to its Politics and Problems professional career at the World Bank. 12. United Nations Development Since his retirement from the bank, he has Programme, Human Development Report, served as an occasional consultant to both 2001, (United Nations, 2002), p. 155. the World Bank and the International Other organizations, like the World Bank, Monetary Fund. Dr. Raphaeli joined the concur with the UN. Middle Media Research Institute (MEMRI) 13. Okaz, January 28, 2003. as a senior analyst in 2001. 14. Eric Swanson, et al., World Development Indicators, 2001, pp. 16-18, NOTES 114-6. 1. Forbes magazine, April, 2003. 15. Ibid., pp. 114-6. 2. “Country at a Glance: Saudi Arabia,” 16. Ibid., pp. 98-100. Health Expenditure (World Bank, September 23, 2002) per capita on average for the years 1990-
Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) 29
Nimrod Raphaeli
Appendix
CHART I The King and His Deputies
STRUCTURE OF SAUDI ROYAL OLIGARCHY
King and Prime Minister King Fahd bin abd Al-Aziz State Minister & Head of Cabinet Pr. Abd Al-Aziz bin
Asst. Commander of the National Guard for Deputy Commander of Crown Prince, First Deputy PM and Military Affairs the National Guard Commander of National Guard Pr. Mut'ib bin Abdallah Pr. Turki bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr. Abdallah bin Abd Al-Aziz bin Abd Al-Aziz
Asst. to Deputy National Guard for Technical Affairs - West Deputy Pr. Muhammad bin Mansoor Pr. Badr bin Abd Al-Aziz Jalawi
Second Deputy PM and Minister of Defense and Air Force Pr. Sultan bin Abd Al-Aziz Councellor Councellor Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah Pr. Turki bin Abdallah bin Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad
Councellor Pr. Abd Al-Aziz bin Abdallah bin Abd Al-
Councellor Pr. Bandar bin Salman bin
30 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) Saudi Arabia: A Brief Guide to its Politics and Problems
CHART II Royal Members of the Cabinet and their Deputies/Assistants
Minister of Foreign Affairs Min. of Defense and Air Force Min. of Interior Min.of Public Work Min. of Information State Minister and Head of Cabinet Ministry of Petroleum Pr. Sa'ud Al-Faisal Pr. Sultan bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr. Na'if bin Abd Al-Aziz and Housing Secretariat Pr. Mut'ib Pr. Abd Al-Aziz bin Abd Al-Aziz bin Fahd bin Abd Al-Aziz
First Secretary General Deputy Minister of Defense Deputy Min.of Interior Deputy Min. Asst.Min. Administration Deputy Minister of Petroleum Pr. Turki and Air Force Pr. Ahmad bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr.Ahmad Pr. Turki bin Sultan bin Abd Pr. Thangan bin Sa'ab Pr.Abd Al-Aziz bin Salman bin Muhammad Al-Saud Abd Al-Rahman bin Abd Al-Aziz bin Abd Al-Aziz Al-Aziz in Muhammad Al-Saud bin Abd Al-Aziz *
Assistant First Secretary Asst.Min.of Defense Asst.Min.for Security Affairs Assst.Min.for Security Affairs Pr. Dr. Turki bin Muhammad and Air Force Pr. Muhammad bin Na'if Pr.Turki bin Sultan bin Sa'ud Al-Kabir Pr. Khaled bin Sultan bin Abd Al-Aziz bin Abd Al-Aziz bin Abd Al-Aziz
Director General of Inspection Asst. Min.Defense and Councellor to the Minister Pr.Khaled bin Sa'ud bin Khaled Inspector Gen.of Civil Aviation Pr. Muhammad bin Sa'ad bin Abd Al- Pr. Fahd bin Abdallah Aziz bin Muhammad
Ambassador to US Director of Central Intelligence Director General, Human Res.Dev. Pr. Bandar bin Sultan Pr. Nawaf bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr.Khaled bin Masha'l bin Saud
Ambassador to U.K. Deputy Director of Central Pr. Turki Al-Faisal Intelligence Pr. Sa'ud bin Fahd bin Abd Al-Aziz
Ambassador to Italy Pr.Muhammad bin Nawaf bin Abd Al- Aziz
Ambassador to Czech Republic Pr. Mansoor bin Khaled bin Firhan Al Sa'ud
* Honorary Chairman, Saudi Economics Society
Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) 31
Nimrod Raphaeli
CHART III The Structure of Sub-National Government (Imarat or Governorates) * AL BAHA Pr. Muhammad bin Sa'ud bin Abd Al-Aziz
Deputy Pr. Faisal bin Muhammad bin Abd Al-Aziz
AL HUDUD AL SHAMALIYAH Pr. Abdallah bin Abd Al-Aziz bin Musa'd Al- Saud Deputy Pr. Abdallah bin Abd Al-Aziz bin Musa'ed Al-Saud AL JAWF Pr. Fahd bin Badr bin Abd Al-Aziz
AL MADINAH Pr. Muqrin bin Abd Al-Aziz
MINISTRY AL QASSAIM OF Pr. Faisal bin Bandar bin Abd Al-Aziz INTERIOR Deputy Pr. Abd Al-Aziz bin Majed bin Abd Al-Aziz
AL RIYADH Pr. Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz Deputy Pr. Sattam bin Abd Al-Aziz
AL SHARQIYAH Pr. Muhammad bin Fahd bin Abd Al-Aziz
Deputy Muhammad bin Na'if bin Abd Al-Aziz
ASAIR Pr. Khaled Al-Faisal
HA'IL Pr. Sa'ud bin Abd Al-Muhsan bin Abd Al- Aziz Deputy Pr. Abd Al-Aziz bin Sa'ad bin Abd Al-Aziz JIZAN Pr. Muhammed bin Naser bin Abd Al-Aziz
MAKKAH Pr. Abd Al-Majid bin Abd Al-Aziz Advisor Pr. Faisal bin Thani bin Abd Al-Aziz
NAJRAN Mash'al bin Sa'ud bin Abd Al-Aziz
TABOUK Fahd bin Sultan bin Abd Al-Aziz Deputy Jalawi bin Abd Al-Aziz
* Each of the Governorates has a Regional Governor with the rank of minister, who reports to the Minister of Interior.
32 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) Saudi Arabia: A Brief Guide to its Politics and Problems
CHART IV Princes in Other Miscellaneous Senior Positions
I. Senior Positions II. Military Establishment III. Youth, Women, and Sport
Governor of Al Kharj Commander of Prince Abdallah Air Base President Youth Federation and Pr. Abd Al-Rahman bin Naser Pr. Mansoor bin Bandar bin Abd Al-Aziz President of Saudi Soccer Association bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr. Sultan bin Fahd bin Abd-Al-Aziz
Governor of Jedah Director, Center for Strategic Studies Vice President Youth Federation and Saudi Soccer Pr.Mash'al bin Majid bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr.Mamdooh bin Abd Al-Aziz Association Pr.Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd
Governor of Al Ihsaa Commander, Armored Corps. Soccer Federation Pr.Badr bin Fahd bin Jalawi Pr.Gen.Khaled bin Bandar Pr.Nawaf bin Faisal bin Abd Al-Aziz
Chairman - High Council Commander of the First Mechanized Division Chairwoman-Women Council Pr. Abdallah bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr. Turki bin Abdallah bin Muhammad Pr. Abta bin Hamoud Al-Rashid * Al-Saud
Mayor of Riyadh Head of National Guard-West President Ahali Soccer Club Pr.Abd Al-Aziz bin Muhammad Pr. Faisal bin Abdallah Pr. Sa'ud bin Turki Al-Muqrin
Governor of Al-Dar'iya Head of National Guard-East President of Saudi Basketball Association Pr.Ahmad bin Abdallah Pr.Mushari bin Sa'ud bin Abd-Aziz Pr. Talal bin Badr bin Abd Al-Rahman
Pr.Talal bin Abd Al-Aziz Deputy Head Horceracing Head of the Arab Gulf Program for Pr.Mish'al bin Badr bin Saud Pr. Faisal bin Khalid Support of United Nations Development Program
Chairman of the Board, Faisal World Commander of the Navy President Riyadh Soccer Club Academy Pr.Fahd bin Abdallah bin Muhammed Abd Al- Pr.Faisal Abdallah bin Nasser Pr.Abd Al-Aziz bin Fahd Al-Faisal Rahman
Secretary General High Tourism Gen. - Air Force IV. Medical Societies Authority Turki bin Abdallah bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr. Sultan bin Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz
President of Meteorology and V. Business & Publishing Head Regional Office for Fighting Environment Agency Blindness Pr.Turki bin Naser bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr.Abd Al-Aziz bin Ahmad bin Abd Al-Aziz
Deputy Director General Chariman - Al-Mara'i (Publishing, Banking) Honorary Chairman, King Faisal Charitable Foundation Pr. Sultan bin Muhammed Down's Syndrome Society Pr.Bandar bin Sa'ud bin Khaled Pr.Talal bin Abd Al-Aziz
Chariman -Saudi Group for Research President of Saudi Opthomology Society Marketing Abd-Al-Aziz bin Ahmad bin Abd Al-Aziz Pr. Dr. Faisal bin Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz
Governor, Investment Authority CEO -Arab Electronics Chairman, Committee of Friends of Health Pr. Abdallah bin Faisal bin Turki Pr. Sultan bin Bandar Al-Faisal Pr.Abd Al-Ilah bin Abd Al-Rahman bin Abd Al-Aziz
Adviser on Islamic Affairs Chariman Qusaim Cement Co. Chairman of the Board Saudi Embassy in the US Pr. Abd Al-Rahman Al-Faisal bin Abd Al-Aziz Association of Handicapped Children Pr. Muhammad bin Faisal bin Turki Pr. Sultan bin Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz
Chairman, Women Committee Chairman -NAFA Corp. Director General Prevention of Narcotics and Drugs for Social Services Pr. Nasser bin Fahd bin Faisal Al-Saud Pr. Sa'ud bin Fahd bin Abdallah Al-Saud Princess Sarah Al-Ankari
Publsiher of Al-Hayat newspaper Pr. Khalid bin Sultan
CEO-Saudi Airlines Pr. Sultan bin Abdul Aziz
CEO-Water and Sanitation Pr. Abdul Majid binAbdul Aziz
* She is the wife of Prince Mu'qren, Governor of Mecca
Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) 33