The order of succession to the throne of Saudi Arabia is determined by, and within, the House of Saud. It follows very closely agnatic seniority, but a prince may be surpassed, or another elevated. The House of Saud ( transliteration: ) is the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ... In hereditary monarchies, particularly in more ancient or in more underdeveloped times, seniority was a much-used principle of order of succession. ...

Current King Abdullah has appointed his half brother, Sultan, as the Crown Prince of the kingdom. There are, at least, three brothers (Bandar, Musa'id, Mishaal) who are older than Sultan and have either stepped aside or have been sidelined for health reasons or by family consensus or by their unwillingness to participate in governing. The custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (Arabic: , born August 1, 1924) [2] is the King of Saudi Arabia. ... Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Arabic: ) (born January 5, 1928 in Riyadh) is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. ... Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Arabic: ) (born January 5, 1928 in Riyadh) is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. ... Bandar bin Abdul Aziz (1923-) is, after Saudi Arabian King Abdullah, the oldest living son of the late King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. ... Musaid bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (1923 - ) is a son of Ibn Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia. ... Mishaal ibn Abdulaziz(1923-) is a senior member of the Saudi Royal Family. ...

Factors, beyond age, that appear to be considerations include:

• • Ability to garner support within the Al Saud
  • Tenure in government
  • Tribal affiliations & origins of a candidate's mother
  • Religious persona
  • Acceptance by the Ulema
  • Support by the merchant community
  • Popularity among the general Saudi citizenry.

The following surviving sons of Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, in order of age precedence, are considered candidates to the Line of Succession, following Crown Prince Sultan. The House of Saud ( translit: ) is the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ... Ulema (, translit: , singular: , translit: , scholar) (Islamic clergy) refers to the educated class of Muslim scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ... Ibn Saud Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal Al Saud (1880 - November 9, 1953), also known by several abbreviated forms of this name, or simply as Ibn Saud was first monarch of Saudi Arabia. ... Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Arabic: ) (born January 5, 1928 in Riyadh) is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. ...

• • Abd al-Rahman bin Abdul Aziz
  • Mutaib bin Abdul Aziz
  • Badr bin Abdul Aziz
  • Nayef bin Abdul Aziz
  • Salman bin Abdul Aziz
  • Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz
  • Sattam bin Abdul Aziz
  • Muqran bin Abdul Aziz

In October 2006, King Abdullah announced the creation of the Bay'ah Council to be made up of the sons and senior grandsons of the the Kingdom's founder. The Council's function is to ensure the smooth transition of power in the event of the King's, and Crown Prince's, incapacitation or death and the selection of an heir. This, along with an earlier decree by King Fahd, also has opened the possibility of Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud's grandsons being considered viable candidates. Abd al-Rahman bin Abdul Aziz (1931-) is Saudi Arabias Vice Minister of Defence & Aviation and a member of the Sudairi Seven faction of the Al Saud. ... Mutaib bin Abdul Aziz (1931-) is the member of the Saudi Arabias ruling Al Saud family. ... Badr bin Abdul Aziz (1933-), a member of Saudi Arabias royal family, is Deputy Commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG). ... Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz is one of the six surviving members of the Sudairi Seven, all sons of Ibn Saud and Hussa bint Ahmad Al Sudairi, making him one of the most powerful members of the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, the House of Saud. ... Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz (Arabic: سلمان بن عبد العزيز ) is one of the Sudairi Seven, a son of Ibn Saud and Hussa bint Ahmad Al-Sudairi. ... Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz is one of the Sudairi Seven, a son of Ibn Saud and Hussa bint Ahmad Al Sudairi. ... Sattam bin Abdul Aziz(1942-) is a son of Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ... Prince Muqran bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (born September 15, 1945, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) is a member of the House of Saud and the second-youngest son of the founder of Saudi Arabia, `Abd al-`Azīz Āl Sa`ūd. ... King Fahd of Saudi Arabia King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz (born in Riyadh in 1923) is the king and prime minister of Saudi Arabia and leader of the House of Saud. ... Ibn Saud Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal Al Saud (1880 - November 9, 1953), also known by several abbreviated forms of this name, or simply as Ibn Saud was first monarch of Saudi Arabia. ...

Grandsons who appear to have the necessary support and experience to be considered candidates include

• • Khalid al Faisal
  • Saud al Faisal
  • Mutaib bin Abdullah
  • Turki al Faisal
  • Saud bin Abdul Mohsin
  • Khalid bin Sultan
  • Mohammed bin Fahd