Saudi's next heir

Moqren bin Abdulaziz

Prince Moqren, named last year as second in line to the Saudi throne, was a trusted confidant of the late King Abdullah with a reputation as a liberal.
Born on September 15, 1945 in Riyadh, Moqren is the youngest of the 45 sons of Abdulaziz bin Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia.
He graduated from Britain's Royal Air Force College and served in the Saudi air force until taking on political roles from 1980.
He was governor of the northern province of Hail, and then of Medina in the west.
In 2005, Moqren was appointed head of Saudi intelligence, a post that helped the prince build a network of international contacts.
In 2012, King Abdullah named him as counsellor and special envoy, and the following year appointed him second deputy prime minister.
Diplomats say Moqren was very close to Abdullah and was frequently entrusted with sensitive assignments.
He has been involved in key foreign policy issues, including in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen, and is known for his open hostility to Iran, Saudi Arabia's Shiite-dominated arch rival across the Gulf.