- Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud
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HRH Prince Muqrin bin Abbul-Aziz Al Saud Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz (1945 - ) is a member of House of Saud[1], the royal family of Saudi Arabia. He is the third youngest son and the youngest surviving son of King Abdul-Aziz. He is the Director General of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah, which is Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency. He is a half-brother of King Abdullah. He is likely to become King of Saudi Arabia[2]. He is one of the most important key players in the ruling Al-Saud family dynasty[3]
Contents
Early life and education
He was born September 15, 1945 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He went to Ideal Academy in Riyadh. He then went to Britain's RAF College in Cranwell. He graduated with a degree in aeronautics in 1968. In 1970 when he was named Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF)'s 2nd Air Squadron. He had served in several positions in the RSAF from 1973 to 1977 before being appointed the Adjutant to the Director of Air Operations. He then was elevated to President of Operations and Planning for the RSAF.
Political career
On March 18, 1980, King Khalid appointed him as Governor of Hail where he promoted traditionalism. On November 24, 1999, he was named as Governor of Madinah when King Fahd later ordered him to modernize the city in response to a wave of anti-government and anti-royalty demonstrations during Hajj. He developed the education and health care offered in remote regions.
Director General of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
On October 2005, King Abdullah promoted him as Director General of Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.
His public profile has grown recently. He organized a conference on combating internet militancy in 2007. According to diplomats, he is very close to King Abdullah.[4]
Mediation in Pakistan
He has played an active role in Pakistani politics recently. After Pervez Musharraf's 1999 military coup on Nawaz Sharif, the Saudi government had arranged a 10-year agreement with Pervez Musharraf to accept Nawaz Sharif as an exile. 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 Muqrin. However, Sharif was quickly deported from Pakistan and was greeted by Muqrin at the Jeddah airport. Muqrin went to Pakistan to plead for Sharif's return to Musharraf's government.[5] He was involved in political reconciliation efforts in Pakistan.[6]
Iran
He pushed for sanctions against Iran instead of military action as King Abdullah insisted.[7] He voiced concern of Shia expansion to U.S. Ambassador Brennan. [8]
Family
HRH Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud has 14 children.[9] His daughters are Princesses: Mudahawi, Layla, Mishail, Abta, Nuf, Lamiya, Jawahir, and Sara Al-Saud. His sons are Princes: Fahd, Abd-al-Aziz, Faysal, Turki, Mansur, and Bandur Al-Saud.[10]
External links
- Mini profile, in Foreign Policy magazine.
References
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Saud
- ^ "Saudi king prepares to name new crown prince". The Daily Star. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/Oct-24/152043-saudi-king-prepares-to-name-new-crown-prince.ashx#axzz1dRKmQLbX. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/11/22/idINIndia-53078820101122?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a54:g12:r1:c0.615240:b39657500:z3
- ^ http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53078820101122?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a54:g12:r1:c0.615240:b39657500:z3
- ^ [1]
- ^ Saudi spy chief meets Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif
- ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/usdiplomacymilitaryinternetwikileakssaudiiran
- ^ http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/09RIYADH496.html
- ^ http://www.datarabia.com/royals/famtree.do?id=176869
- ^ http://www.datarabia.com/royals/famtree.do?id=176869/
Categories:- 1945 births
- Directors of intelligence agencies
- Living people
- House of Saud
- RAF College Cranwell graduates
- Governors of provinces in Saudi Arabia
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