Prince Mishaal is new Makkah governor

(Reuters) / 23 December 2013

He replaces Prince Khaled Al Faisal, who has been made education minister, a move that may revive stalled educational reforms. 

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, on Sunday appointed his son Prince Mishaal as governor of Makkah Province, one of the most prominent jobs in the country.
He replaces Prince Khaled Al Faisal, who has been made education minister, a move that may revive stalled educational reforms, Saudi analysts said.
The appointments were announced in a royal decree carried by state media.

Prince Mishaal

Analysts have said the changes reflect a desire by King Abdullah, who is thought to be 90, to establish his sons and other allies in key positions for the future.
“Appointing a son of the king to one of the major governorates in the kingdom is noteworthy. He is giving his sons a big chance to have a place in the succession process,” said Khaled Al Dakhil, a Saudi political scientist.
He has appointed his son Miteb as minister of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, his son Abdulaziz as deputy foreign minister and his son Turki as deputy Riyadh governor.
Mishaal, the new Makkah governor, was previously governor of Najran province on the border with Yemen. The job of Makkah governor carries big administrative responsibilities because the province has a large population, as well as symbolic importance through its guardianship of Islam’s holiest site and hosting of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Besides his own sons, Abdullah has also promoted nephews to other top jobs, including interior minister, intelligence chief, Eastern Province governor, Riyadh governor and deputy defence minister. By moving Prince Khaled to the Education Ministry, King Abdullah may also be signalling that he intends to revive stalled reforms to the country’s creaking school system.

“Khaled Al Faisal was very critical of extremism in our educational system. But fixing education is a hard job that requires years and years,” said Jamal Khashoggi, head of a news channel owned by billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.