Naimi's successor would be just the fifth oil minister in Saudi history. His predecessors were Abdullah al-Tariki (1960-1962), Ahmed Zaki Yamani (1962-1986) and Hisham Nazer (1986-1995).

The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia since 1995, King Abdullah’s protege is Ali Al Naimi, the Saudi Oil Minister (in office since 1995), who has implemented the kingdom’s strategy to expand ...