STIPENDS AND STEWARDSHIP FOR THE HOUSE OF SAUD

Abdul-Aziz, founder of the Saudi kingdom in its present form in 1932, is thought to have had around 70 children by at least 21 wives, with 16 or more sons still surviving. Together they and their own sons form a group of some 200 princes who wield most of the power, write Abeer Allam and Andrew England.

Total membership of the royal family is put at 7,000-25,000. Most receive stipends from Saudi oil revenues and their opulent spending has often been a cause of criticism.

King Abdullah, 84, ascended the throne in August 2005 as the fifth son of the founder to rule. Among the more powerful members of the family are a group of Abdullah’s half-brothers who are known collectively as the Sudairi seven. They are the sons of Abdul-Aziz by one of his wives.

The late King Fahd was the eldest of this group and the six remaining sons hold key positions, including Crown Prince Sultan, whose health has been called into question following a recent operation in New York. He serves as deputy prime minister and has been minister of defence and aviation since 1962. His sons include Prince Khaled, deputy defence minister, and Prince Bandar, who grew to prominence while serving as Saudi ambassador to the US but whose current influence is open to speculation.

The next most senior royal is Prince Naif, interior minister since 1975 and credited with leading the domestic fight against al-Qaeda. Also one of the Sudairi seven, his appointment as second deputy prime minister in effect elevated him recently to third in line to the throne.

Traditionally the successors were chosen by the king, who consulted main members of the family. But in 2006 King Abdullah formed the Allegiance Council to select future crown princes and kings. It consists of 35 members who are either sons or grandsons of Abdul-Aziz and was supposed to kick in only after Prince Sultan succeeded. Still, Prince Naif’s appointment caused some to query whether the council was in danger of being bypassed.

Sceptics included Prince Talal, another of King Abdullah’s half-brothers, who is among the most outspoken advocates for reform but holds no official position. His son, Prince Alwaleed, is one of the Middle East’s most prominent global investors, with stakes in Citigroup, Four Seasons Hotels, News Corporation and Time Warner held through his Kingdom Holding Company.