The Saudi royal family’s supreme interest is to retain the power in its own hands, and therefore its ability to transfer power in the kingdom as smoothly as possible is of major importance
The prolonged hospitalization of the current king of Saudi Arabia, 91-year-old Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, “custodian” of oil and Islamic holy sites, has led to concerns about the continued stability and future policy of this key country. Saudi Arabia will likely have a new king in 2015, and no matter who he is, he will face several significant challenges, both at home and abroad.
