Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud
Who was Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud?
Former Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia for four months in 2015 and former intelligence chief who previously served as a military pilot.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born on September 15, 1945, in Riyadh. He is the 35th son of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. His mother, Baraka, was a Yemeni concubine of the king. After his half-brother Hamoud died in 1994, Muqrin became the youngest surviving son of Abdulaziz. He completed his early education and then received military training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in the UK, where he gained aviation skills that shaped much of his career.
Muqrin started his career in the Royal Saudi Air Force as a military pilot before moving into intelligence. His most notable job was as director general of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah, Saudi Arabia's main intelligence agency, from 2005 to 2012. During this time, he managed the country's intelligence work amid regional instability and increasing security issues in the Middle East.
In July 2012, King Abdullah appointed Muqrin as his personal advisor and special envoy with a ministerial rank, giving him more political responsibilities. This role prepared him for larger positions in the royal succession. On March 27, 2014, King Abdullah named him deputy crown prince, making him second in line to the throne after Crown Prince Salman.
Muqrin's short time as Crown Prince began on January 23, 2015, after King Abdullah died and King Salman took the throne. As crown prince and first deputy prime minister, he was next in line for the throne. However, his time in this role lasted only three months and six days. On April 29, 2015, King Salman removed him from the position, replacing him with Muhammad bin Nayef, changing the kingdom's succession plans and ending Muqrin's direct path to the throne.
Throughout his career, Muqrin received several international honors, including the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, in recognition of his diplomatic work. His journey from military aviation to intelligence leadership and high royal succession levels is one of the more varied paths among Saudi princes of his generation.
Before Fame
Muqrin's early life was influenced by being one of the youngest sons of King Abdulaziz during Saudi Arabia's early years. Born in 1945, he grew up as the country was transforming from a desert land to an oil-rich, modern state. His education started in traditional Saudi schools and then took him to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, a top military aviation academy.
His rise was shaped by the Saudi governance system, where royal family members often take on various governmental and military roles. His training at Cranwell gave him technical skills and international experience that set him apart from many peers. As the younger son of the founder, he had both the chance and drive to prove himself through service rather than relying solely on seniority in the royal family.
Key Achievements
- Served as director general of Saudi Arabia's primary intelligence agency for seven years (2005-2012)
- Became the first deputy crown prince in Saudi history in March 2014
- Briefly held the position of Crown Prince and first deputy prime minister in 2015
- Completed military aviation training at Royal Air Force College Cranwell
- Received Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Did You Know?
- 01.He was the last son of King Abdulaziz to serve as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
- 02.His dismissal as Crown Prince in April 2015 marked the end of the founder's sons' direct succession line
- 03.He trained as a pilot at the same Royal Air Force College that has produced British royal family pilots
- 04.His mother Baraka was from Yemen, making him one of the few high-ranking Saudi princes with Yemeni maternal heritage
- 05.He holds the distinction of having the shortest tenure as Crown Prince among King Abdulaziz's sons
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | — | — |