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Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia
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Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (born 31 August 1985), widely known by his initials MBS, is the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. As the de facto ruler of the Kingdom, he occupies a central position in the contemporary political and social landscape of the Middle East. He is the son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. Born and raised in Riyadh, Mohammed bin Salman attended King Saud University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in law, graduating second in his class. Following his studies, he gained experience in the private sector before entering government service. His political career began in earnest in 2009 when he was appointed as a special advisor to his father, then-governor of Riyadh Province. As his father’s influence grew, so did Mohammed's; he held various advisory roles, including secretary-general of the Riyadh Competitive Council and advisor to the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives. In 2013, he was appointed chief of the Crown Prince Court, and in 2014, he became a minister of state. His rapid ascent to national prominence occurred in January 2015, when King Abdullah died and his father, King Salman, ascended to the throne. Mohammed was subsequently appointed Minister of Defense—becoming one of the world's youngest defense ministers at the time—and head of the Royal Court. In April 2015, he was named Deputy Crown Prince and second deputy prime minister. On June 21, 2017, King Salman removed his nephew, Muhammad bin Nayef, as crown prince and elevated Mohammed bin Salman to the position. In September 2022, he was formally appointed Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, an office traditionally held by the monarch. Mohammed bin Salman is primarily recognized for his ambitious national development framework, Vision 2030, which was launched in 2016. The plan is designed to diversify the Saudi economy, reducing its historic dependency on oil revenues by fostering growth in sectors such as tourism, entertainment, technology, and manufacturing. Central to this strategy is the expansion of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the pursuit of massive infrastructure projects, most notably the planned desert metropolis of NEOM. Domestically, his tenure has overseen significant social transformations, including the lifting of the long-standing ban on women driving, the expansion of public entertainment venues, and a reduction in the public influence of the religious police, alongside a more secularized nationalist governance style. His governance has also been marked by controversy and international scrutiny. His foreign policy, particularly the military intervention in Yemen that began in 2015, has faced criticism for its humanitarian consequences. Globally, his reputation was significantly impacted by the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul; a 2021 report by the United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence concluded that he had approved the operation. Additionally, he has overseen assertive crackdowns on domestic political dissent, targeting activists, religious scholars, and members of the royal family to consolidate authority. Mohammed bin Salman is married to Sara bint Mashour Al Saud, with whom he has children. His leadership has defined a transformative and often polarizing era for Saudi Arabia, characterized by rapid modernization efforts, the centralization of political power, and a proactive, if contentious, role in regional and international geopolitics.
Architect of 'Vision 2030,' fundamentally restructuring the Saudi economy and spearheading the construction of NEOM and The Line
Appointed Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia in 2022 by royal decree, formalizing his absolute executive control
Fundamentally reshaped global sports through massive sovereign wealth fund (PIF) investments, acquiring Newcastle United and forcing the merger/creation of LIV Golf
Universally condemned by Western intelligence agencies (including the CIA) as the official who ordered the brutal 2018 assassination and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul
Architect of the devastating military intervention in Yemen, which triggered one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history before a fragile ceasefire was established
Executed the 2017 'Ritz-Carlton purge,' detaining hundreds of wealthy Saudi princes and businessmen in a luxury hotel to consolidate power and extract billions of dollars in what he termed an anti-corruption drive
News articles featuring Mohammed bin Salman
Initiated massive social reforms, curtailing the power of the religious police, allowing women to drive, and opening the country to international tourism and entertainment
Graduated with a bachelor's degree in law from King Saud University in 2007.
Appointed as a special advisor to his father, the Governor of Riyadh, on December 15, 2009.
Founded the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Foundation (Misk Foundation) in 2011 to empower youth.
Recognized as the 'Leadership Personality of the Year' for 2013 by Forbes Middle East for his support of young entrepreneurs.
Appointed as head of the Crown Prince Court and special advisor to his father (then Crown Prince) on March 2, 2013.
Appointed general supervisor of the Ministry of Defense office on July 13, 2013.
Appointed as a Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers on April 25, 2014.
Appointed Minister of Defense and Head of the Royal Court on January 23, 2015.
Named Chair of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) on January 29, 2015.
Appointed Deputy Crown Prince and Second Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia on April 29, 2015.
Officially launched Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic framework for economic diversification and social reform, on April 25, 2016.
Oversaw the regulation of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, effectively restricting the powers of the religious police, on April 11, 2016.
Appointed Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia on June 21, 2017.
Announced the development of the Neom megacity project in October 2017.
Lifting of the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, which went into effect on June 24, 2018.
Appointed Chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs on December 27, 2018.
Implemented reforms weakening the male-guardianship system in 2019.
Awarded the 'Oman Civil Order' (First Class) by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in 2021.
Awarded the First Class Order of Zayed by the United Arab Emirates in 2021.
Awarded the Order of Hussein bin Ali, Jordan's highest civil honor, on June 21, 2022.
Appointed Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia on September 27, 2022.
Awarded an honorary doctorate from Kasetsart University in Thailand for contributions to Earth Knowledge for Sustainable Development on November 19, 2022.
In 2018, a U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation that led to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. While he denied personal involvement, the incident resulted in significant international condemnation and U.S. sanctions against several individuals linked to the operation.
In November 2017, he initiated an anti-corruption campaign that resulted in the detention of hundreds of princes, ministers, and business figures at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. While the Saudi government stated it successfully recovered over $100 billion in illicit assets, critics frequently characterized the purge as a consolidation of political power.
Since 2015, as Defense Minister, he has overseen the Saudi-led military intervention in the Yemeni Civil War, which has been widely blamed for a severe humanitarian crisis and mass civilian casualties. The intervention has faced persistent international scrutiny and criticism from human rights groups regarding the conduct of the coalition.
Throughout his tenure, he has faced extensive criticism from human rights organizations for the suppression of domestic dissent, including the detention and reported torture of prominent women’s rights activists and political dissidents. These actions have been cited by international observers as part of a broader crackdown on civil liberties in the kingdom.
In 2020, forensic investigations suggested a link between the Crown Prince's personal WhatsApp account and the 2018 hacking of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos's phone. Saudi authorities have consistently denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless, but the report sparked intense debate regarding the state's use of advanced digital surveillance tools.