Ghaida Ghantous & Aziz El Yaakoubi

RIYADH, (Reuters) – A Saudi royal was among the delegation that visited the UAE. Many people who follow the political scene in the Kingdom see the visit as a sign of unity and family from the de facto ruler. He has spent many turbulent years building his power base.

Prince Abdulaziz Bin Ahmed, who is also the brother detained by the Saudi monarch and the oldest son of Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz has no official position.

However, his name was not on the Saudi state media list of delegations accompanying the Crown Prince and the apparent Mohammed bin Salman in order to pay respects the new United Arab Emirates ruler.

Prince Mohammed, also known as MbS was unable to travel to the UAE after his hospital stay of a week. This refocused Saudi analysts and watchers on succession issues.

One source close to the royal family said that having Prince Ahmed’s son sitting beside him in Abu Dhabi sends a powerful message to international and local public opinion, particularly with succession imminent.”

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen is a Rice University political scientist and the Baker Institute’s Baker Institute.

He said that “(This), perhaps, was intended to demonstrate unity within Al Saud families that have been under strain due issues like the detentions of Prince Ahmed & Mohammed bin Nayef.”

Saudi Arabia did not reply to my request for information about the delegation, or any possible signals that its composition may have sent.

COUNTERBALANCING

Since replacing Mohammed bin Nayef(MbN), the nephew to King Mohammed (King), as crown prince by palace coup in 2017, Prince Mohammed has made it a point to take on critics and rivals.

MbS was endorsed that year by the Allegiance Council. It is therefore automatic. He also serves as defence minister, and closely controls the state security services.

Diplomats identified MbN’s March 2020 detentions and Prince Ahmed’s arrest as an issue between Washington and Riyadh. This is despite their strained ties since Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul in 2018.

Saudi authorities declined to comment on detentions. Some sources claimed that the charges were treason. This was described by several sources as a preemptive attempt to enforce compliance within Al Saud’s family.

Prior to his arrest, Prince Ahmed kept a low profile after returning from Riyadh last October 2018, following an extended trip to London in which he was featured in online footage that criticizes the Saudi leadership.

MbS did not elevate relatives of former royals in Abu Dhabi, even those who were rescued from an anti-corruption purge.

In 2017, MbN’s nephew Abdulaziz Bin Saud bin Nayef was elected to replace him as interior minister. In 2018, Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed deputy governor of Asir region as his brother Alwaleed bin Talal, detained during the purge, was negotiating a release settlement.‮ ‬

Prince Mohammad is empowering younger royals by placing them in authority positions. This signals a definitive passing on the baton to the generations of King Salman (surviving sons) and Prince Ahmed (surviving sons) of King Abdulaziz. King Abdulaziz founded modern Saudi Arabia, and six of his offspring were elected as monarchs.

Kristin Dwan, senior resident scholar at Washington’s Arab Gulf States Institute, stated that Mohammed bin Salman had been counterbalancing some of the resentments from the senior members the ruling family has expressed by courting younger princes.