Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (born August 31, 1985), commonly known as MBS, is the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. He is the de facto ruler of the Kingdom and the son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Early Life and Education

Mohammed bin Salman was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to King Salman and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. He is the eldest of his mother's six children and the eighth child and seventh son of his father. He earned a bachelor's degree in law from King Saud University, graduating second in his class. [1][2]

Rise to Power

After completing his education, Mohammed bin Salman served as a special advisor to his father when the latter was the governor of Riyadh Province. He held various positions, including secretary-general of the Riyadh Competitive Council and advisor to the Experts Commission. In 2015, following King Salman's ascension to the throne, Mohammed was appointed Minister of Defense and Secretary General of the Royal Court. [1]

In April 2015, he was named Deputy Crown Prince, and in June 2017, he was elevated to Crown Prince, replacing his cousin Muhammad bin Nayef. In September 2022, he was appointed Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, a role traditionally held by the king. [1]

Domestic Policies and Reforms

Mohammed bin Salman has initiated several social and economic reforms under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to diversify the Saudi economy and reduce its dependence on oil. Notable reforms include:

• Women's Rights: Lifting the ban on female drivers in 2018 and weakening the male guardianship system in 2019. However, repression of women's rights activists continues. [1]

• Religious Establishment: Curtailing the influence of the Wahhabi religious establishment by restricting the powers of the religious police. [1]

• Economic Diversification: Investing in sectors such as technology and tourism to diversify the economy, though the country remains heavily reliant on oil. [1]

Foreign Policy

Under Mohammed bin Salman's leadership, Saudi Arabia has pursued an assertive foreign policy to increase its regional and international influence:

• Yemen Intervention: Architect of the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, leading to a prolonged conflict. [1]

• Diplomatic Relations: Strengthened ties with countries like Russia and China, and expanded relations with emerging economies in Africa, South America, and Asia. [1]

• Regional Disputes: Involved in the escalation of the Qatar diplomatic crisis and a 2018 diplomatic dispute with Canada. [1]

Controversies

Mohammed bin Salman's tenure has been marked by several controversies:

• Authoritarian Governance: His government has been characterized as authoritarian, with systematic repression of political dissidents through imprisonment and torture. Citizens have faced arrest for social media posts mildly criticizing government policies. [1]

• Anti-Corruption Purge: Between 2017 and 2019, he led a purge of competing Saudi political and economic elites, alleging corruption and seizing up to US$800 billion in assets and cash. [1]

• Jamal Khashoggi Assassination: A 2021 report by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency concluded that Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. [1]

Honors

Mohammed bin Salman has received several international honors:

• Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (Bahrain, 2018)
• Order of the Republic (Tunisia, 2018)
• Nishan-e-Pakistan (Pakistan, 2019)
• Order of Oman (Oman, 2021)
• Order of Zayed (United Arab Emirates, 2021)
• Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali (Jordan, 2022)
• Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine, 2023) [1]

References

1. Mohammed bin Salman - Wikipedia
2. Mohammed bin Salman - Simple English Wikipedia