SAUDI ARABIA - Part 5 - The Saudi Decision Makers.

The running of the Saudi kingdom, including policy decisions for the petroleum sector, is in the hands of King Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz. But he assumes his functions in partnership with a half-brother, Crown Prince, First Deputy PM and Defence Minister Sultan ibn Abdul-Aziz who holds other key positions.

King Abdullah presides over cabinet meetings. He is the PM and chairman of the highest decision maker for petroleum, the Supreme Council for Petroleum & Mineral Resources. Since becoming monarch on Aug. 1, 2005, when King Fahd died, however, King Abdullah has not appointed a second deputy PM - the second person in the line to the throne. Rumours circulating since then say King Abdullah has not made the appointment because the person proposed to him for this key post is hardline Interior Minister Prince Nayef, a full-brother of Prince Sultan and three other pillars of the Saudi royal regime. It is said King Abdullah's preferred candidate for this post is Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. But appointing him to this post now could cause trouble as Prince Saud might be vetoed by Prince Sultan and his full-brothers who are all powerful (see who's who in the political system in Gas Market Trends).