Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, often referred to by his initials MBS, is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Deputy Prime Minister, and the country’s Minister of Defense. Born on August 31, 1985, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, MBS has emerged as one of the most powerful and influential figures not only in the Middle East but globally. Under his leadership, Saudi Arabia is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, economically, socially, and politically, with his flagship project being the ambitious Vision 2030 plan.
Early Life and Education
Mohammed bin Salman was born into the House of Saud, the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. His father, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, ascended to the throne in 2015. Mohammed is the eldest son of King Salman’s third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. He grew up in the capital, Riyadh, where he received his early education. He later pursued a bachelor’s degree in law from King Saud University.
From an early age, MBS showed a keen interest in government and business. His formative years were shaped by his exposure to the intricacies of governance and diplomacy through his father’s roles as the governor of Riyadh and later as the Minister of Defense. His early experiences would later inform his approach to reforming Saudi Arabia’s economy and governance structures.
Rise to Power
MBS’s rapid ascent to power began in 2015, following his father’s coronation as king. He was appointed Minister of Defense at the age of 30, becoming the world’s youngest defense minister. Soon after, he was named Deputy Crown Prince and head of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, a body responsible for overseeing the country’s economic strategies.
In June 2017, he was named Crown Prince, replacing his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef, a move that signified the consolidation of power around MBS. As Crown Prince, he wields significant authority over Saudi Arabia’s domestic and foreign policies, particularly in economic and defense matters.
Vision 2030: Transforming Saudi Arabia
One of the hallmarks of MBS’s leadership is Vision 2030, an ambitious reform program aimed at diversifying the Saudi economy away from its dependence on oil revenues. Launched in 2016, Vision 2030 outlines a comprehensive plan to modernize the Saudi economy and society by fostering a diversified and sustainable future. Key aspects of Vision 2030 include:
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Economic Diversification: Saudi Arabia, historically reliant on oil, is looking to develop other sectors such as tourism, technology, entertainment, and renewable energy. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country’s sovereign wealth fund, is a key tool in achieving these goals, with investments in international tech firms, entertainment giants, and real estate.
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Privatization and Investment:Mohammed bin Salman Vision 2030 seeks to open up Saudi Arabia to foreign investments and privatize certain state-owned sectors. This includes the much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of Aramco, the world’s largest oil company. The IPO is considered one of the largest in history, symbolizing the opening of Saudi Arabia’s economy to the global market.
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Social Reforms: MBS has implemented several social reforms to modernize Saudi society. Under his leadership, women were granted the right to drive in 2018, a historic decision in the conservative kingdom. Restrictions on gender segregation have been eased, and the guardianship system, which limited women’s freedoms, has been significantly relaxed.
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Tourism and Entertainment: In an effort to diversify income sources, Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to international tourists, issuing tourist visas for the first time in 2019. The kingdom has also invested heavily in entertainment, with plans to develop mega-projects such as Neom, a $500 billion futuristic city, and Qiddiya, an entertainment city that aims to rival global entertainment hubs.
Defense and Foreign Policy
As Minister of Defense, MBS has played a crucial role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s defense strategy, particularly in the context of regional geopolitics. He has taken a hardline stance against Iran, Saudi Arabia’s primary rival in the Middle East, and has been a key figure in the Saudi-led coalition’s involvement in the Yemen conflict.
MBS has also sought to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s alliances with global powers, particularly the United States. His meetings with world leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have positioned Saudi Arabia as a key player on the global stage. He has also forged closer ties with Israel, with speculation about the possibility of normalization between the two countries.
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Empowering Women: In addition to the right to drive, MBS has championed the inclusion of women in the workforce and encouraged female participation in sectors previously closed to them. Women are now allowed to attend sporting events, participate in public life, and take on leadership roles in government and business.
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Cultural Revival: Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in the arts and culture, hosting concerts, international sporting events, and even cinema screenings after decades of prohibition. The lifting of bans on cinemas, concerts, and public entertainment has led to a revival of cultural life in the kingdom.
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Youth Empowerment: Recognizing that the majority of Saudi Arabia’s population is under the age of 30, MBS has focused on empowering young Saudis through education, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation. Programs have been initiated to foster entrepreneurship, and the government is working to create jobs for young people in emerging sectors such as AI and robotics.
Controversies and Challenges
Despite his ambitious reform agenda, MBS has faced significant criticism and controversy. His most high-profile controversy was the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The incident provoked international outrage, with many accusing MBS of being behind the assassination. While the Saudi government initially denied involvement, it later admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a rogue operation. MBS has denied personal involvement but has taken responsibility for the incident as the country’s de facto leader.
Another major challenge for MBS is balancing modernization with the conservative elements of Saudi society. While reforms have been welcomed by many young Saudis and progressive figures, they have also provoked opposition from more conservative factions within the kingdom.
As Saudi Arabia continues to evolve under his guidance, MBS remains a key figure shaping the future of the Middle East and the world. His leadership will likely leave a lasting impact on the region for decades to come, both in terms of economic development and geopolitical influence. Whether he can successfully navigate the challenges ahead, both domestic and international, will define his legacy as one of the most influential leaders of his generation.
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS), born on August 31, 1985, is the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, as well as the Minister of Defense. He is the eldest son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. A graduate in law from King Saud University, where he was second in his class, MBS quickly rose to prominence as an advisor to his father when the latter was the governor of Riyadh Province. His early political career saw him holding various advisory roles, from serving in the Experts Commission to being a member of the Albir Society board in the Riyadh region.
His rapid ascent to power began in 2015, after the death of King Abdullah, when his father ascended the throne. MBS was appointed Minister of Defense at the age of 29, making him the youngest defense minister in the world. As Minister of Defense, he led Saudi Arabia into the Yemen conflict in March 2015, coordinating a pan-Gulf coalition to fight against the Houthis. The conflict was initially portrayed as a swift operation to restore the Yemeni government but has since evolved into a protracted war of attrition, drawing widespread international criticism for humanitarian concerns.
In June 2017, MBS was appointed Crown Prince, replacing his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef. His appointment signaled a seismic shift in Saudi politics, consolidating power in his hands as he became the de facto ruler of the kingdom. In 2022, he succeeded his father as Prime Minister.
Vision 2030 and Economic Reforms
One of MBS’s defining achievements is his Vision 2030 plan, launched in 2016. This ambitious initiative aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s oil-dependent economy by fostering new industries such as tourism, technology, and entertainment. The program includes reforms such as the privatization of Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s state-owned oil giant, which saw one of the largest initial public offerings (IPO) in history.
MBS also aimed to transform Saudi Arabia into a global investment hub. His initiatives have attracted substantial foreign investment, with massive projects like Neom, a $500 billion futuristic city, and Qiddiya, an entertainment city. Vision 2030 is also focused on increasing job opportunities for Saudi youth, modernizing education, and integrating technology and innovation into every aspect of the Saudi economy.
Social Reforms: Empowering Women and Cultural Revival
MBS has introduced significant social reforms that have reshaped Saudi society. Under his leadership, Saudi Arabia has seen historic changes, particularly regarding women’s rights. In 2018, MBS lifted the ban on women driving, marking a monumental moment in the kingdom’s history. In 2019, he introduced measures to weaken the male-guardianship system, granting women greater autonomy over their lives, such as the ability to travel without the permission of a male guardian.
His reign has also led to a revival of Saudi culture, with a series of reforms aimed at liberalizing public life. Cinemas, long banned in the conservative kingdom, reopened, and the country began hosting international concerts, sports events, and entertainment activities. These changes have attracted young Saudis and international tourists, contributing to the country’s broader diversification efforts.
Foreign Policy and Defense Strategy
MBS has been a driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s assertive foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. His leadership has seen a realignment of Saudi alliances, with strengthened ties to global powers like the United States, Russia, and China. Under MBS, Saudi Arabia began coordinating energy policy with Russia, and there have been talks of deepening trade relations with China.
However, his foreign policy has not been without controversy. MBS was instrumental in escalating Saudi involvement in the Yemen conflict, which has led to a humanitarian crisis. The Saudi-led intervention has drawn criticism for its impact on Yemeni civilians, with international organizations condemning the war for causing famine, disease, and massive displacement.
MBS has also been implicated in the 2018 assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government. A report by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded that MBS had ordered Khashoggi’s killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, an event that sparked international outrage and strained Saudi Arabia’s relationships with Western countries.
Authoritarian Leadership and Political Purge
While MBS’s reform agenda has been praised by some for modernizing Saudi Arabia, his leadership has been marked by a crackdown on dissent. MBS has led an authoritarian government, systematically repressing political dissidents, activists, and clerics. His methods have included imprisonment, torture, and intimidation of those who oppose his policies. This repression extends to women’s rights activists, some of whom were jailed even after the driving ban was lifted.
Between 2017 and 2019, MBS led a massive political and economic purge of Saudi elites, detaining hundreds of princes, government officials, and businessmen in what was dubbed the Ritz-Carlton Purge. He justified the detentions as part of an anti-corruption drive, but many saw it as a move to eliminate political rivals and cement his control over the kingdom’s wealth and power. It is estimated that up to $800 billion in assets and cash were seized during the purge, solidifying MBS’s grip on the Saudi economy and political sphere.
Balancing Modernization with Conservatism
One of the key challenges facing MBS is balancing his vision for modernization with the conservative fabric of Saudi society. While young Saudis and more liberal elements of the population have embraced the social reforms, conservative factions remain opposed to many of the changes, particularly those that challenge long-standing religious and cultural norms.
MBS has attempted to strike a balance by positioning himself as both a reformer and a protector of Saudi traditions. This tightrope walk has led to tensions between modernization efforts and the kingdom’s conservative religious establishment, although MBS has succeeded in curtailing the power of the Wahhabi religious police, reducing their influence over daily life in the kingdom.
Mohammed bin Salman’s Legacy
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud is shaping the future of Saudi Arabia in profound ways. His Vision 2030 program promises to transform the kingdom into a global economic and cultural powerhouse, but his leadership style has also drawn criticism for authoritarian practices and controversial policies. While MBS has undeniably modernized Saudi Arabia’s economy and society, his tenure has been marred by human rights concerns, international controversies, and the ongoing war in Yemen.
MBS’s legacy will depend on whether he can achieve the ambitious goals of Vision 2030 while managing the challenges of both domestic dissent and global scrutiny. His leadership represents a new chapter for Saudi Arabia, one that seeks to balance the traditions of the past with the demands of a modern, globalized world.
Mohammed bin Salman
