RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, a former intelligence chief in the conservative kingdom, has been appointed deputy crown prince, Saudi state television reported on Thursday, March 27.

The appointment makes Muqrin, the youngest son of the kingdom’s founder King Abdulaziz al-Saud, next in line to succeed in the world’s top oil exporter and birthplace of Islam after his half-brothers King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman.

“King Abdullah appoints Prince Muqrin as king in case the positions of king and crown prince become vacant,” al-Arabiya television said, quoting a statement from the royal court.

The announcement gives more assurance to the kingdom’s long-term succession process.

King Abdullah turned 90 last year and Crown Prince Salman is 78. Muqrin is 70.

Muqrin already holds the position of second deputy prime minister, a role to which he was appointed a year ago and was traditionally but informally seen as being equivalent to crown prince in waiting.