RIYADH (Dispatches) – Saudi King Salman finally promoted his young son Muhammad to crown prince on Wednesday after sacking Muhammad bin Nayef --  completing a gradual removal of powers and shift in the line of succession.
The central question now is whether the king will abdicate soon and allow his son to become king in his lifetime. Historically, no Saudi king has abdicated according to his own will. King Saud was deposed in 1964 under palace siege, followed by safe voyage to Greece.
According to a royal decree issued by the official Saudi Press Agency, Muhammad bin Salman, 31, was also named deputy prime minister, and maintains his post as minister of defence.
Muhammad bin Nayef, a veteran law enforcer well-regarded in the West for his efforts to combat Al-Qaeda, was also fired from his post as interior minister, the decree said.
Intent on dispelling speculation of internal divisions in the ruling dynasty, Saudi television was quick to show that the change in succession was amicable and supported by the family.
Throughout the early morning it aired footage of Muhammad bin Nayef pledging allegiance to the younger Muhammad bin Salman, who knelt and kissed his cousin's hand.
"I am content," Muhammad bin Nayef said. Muhammad bin Salman replied: "We will not give up taking your guidance and advice."
The new appointment means a lot of things for the future of the kingdom - and all point to uncertainty brought about by the erratic Muhammad.
Muhammad bin Salman has been responsible for running Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, dictating an energy policy with global implications and launched the 2030 vision for an economy less dependent on oil revenues.
He has also taken a hard line on Saudi's regional rival Iran, last month threatening to take the battle "inside Iran", while also ruling out talking to the Islamic Republic to resolve regional conflicts.
He heads the Council for Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), a group of cabinet ministers who meet weekly and which oversees all elements of policy that touch on the economy or social issues like education, health and housing.
Prince Muhammad chairs the supreme board of Aramco, making him the first member of the ruling family to directly oversee the state oil company, long regarded as the preserve of commoner technocrats.
But perhaps most importantly, he also holds the critical position of gatekeeper to his father, King Salman, who in Saudi Arabia's absolute monarchy retains the final say in any major decision of state.
According to Madawi al-Rasheed, a visiting professor at the Middle East Center at London School of Economics, rule by a continuous iron fist at home will be entrenched under Muhammad bin Salman.
"Muhammad bin Salman will silence any dissident voices while allowing limited personal freedoms organized by his new entertainment commission in charge of keeping Saudis moderately entertained,” she wrote in the Middle East Eye news portal on Wednesday.
"Women will also be symbols of a new Saudi consumer modernity and soon may be allowed to drive cars. In the future, Saudis will enjoy themselves up to a certain level without harassment by the religious police,” she added.
According to Rasheed, Al-Qaeda’s sectarian outlook may prove to be useful for Muhammad bin Salman’s current crisis with Iran.
Second, erratic economic policies that may not deliver the desired neoliberal economy - including weaning Saudi Arabia away from oil by 2020, shrinking the welfare state, privatization and, most importantly, floating 5 percent of the Saudi oil company Aramco in international markets by September 2017 - will continue, she added.
Third, Muhammed bin Salman will struggle to become a serious regional power in a bid to emerge as the dominant force dictating the outcomes of several conflicts in the Arab world. He has already alienated Turkey and Iran - the former sided with Qatar in the latest crisis. He also promised to bring the war deep inside Iran, a statement that ultimately amounts to a declaration of war.
Muhammad bin Salman, Rasheed wrote, does not seem to know the implications of his flamboyant statements. But he and Daesh share the same sectarian outlook and may well cooperate, especially after Daesh runs out of targets in Syria and Iraq.
"Daesh may be instructed to move its terrorism campaign to Iran after its defeat in Mosul and Raqqah,” she wrote.
According to Rasheed, Muhammad bin Salman may have scored success with Israel in his bid to form an alliance against both Iran and Qatar.
"He will continue to clandestinely cooperate with Israel in security and economic matters, but we shouldn't expect an Israeli flag to be raised in Riyadh soon. This will take some preparation and coordination and the stakes in such a controversial move are high,” she added.
Israel's communications minister, Ayoub Kara, said on Wednesday the occupying regime welcomed bin Salman's annointment, adding that he hoped the change would accelerate the kingdom's rapprochement with Tel Aviv.
"Salman’s appointment means more economic cooperation in the Middle East, and not just regarding oil," Kara said in a statement.
"The strengthening of relations with the Trump government is the beginning of a new and optimistic time between Saudi Arabia and regional states, including Israel and the Jewish people," he added.
Muhammad bin Salman is expected to continue courting U.S. President Donald Trump, exchanging weapon contracts and investment promises for continuous support - at least in public.
However, Rasheed summed up Saudi Arabia under the ruler.
"Muhammad bin Salman is not a capable fire fighter or a tactical statesman. He thinks only money solves problems but this has not enabled him to claim victories in the many wars and conflicts that he started. He is more likely to light further regional fires than extinguish existing ones.”