Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been Crown Prince since 26 Ramadan 1438 AH/21 June 2017 CE and Prime Minister since 1 Rabi al-Awwal 1444 AH/27 September 2022 CE, the first grandson of King Abdulaziz to head the Council of Ministers. [1]

He was born on 15 Dhu al-Hijjah 1405 AH/31 August 1985 CE in Riyadh and raised by his father, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, then Governor of the Riyadh Region, and his mother, Princess Fahdah bint Falah bin Sultan Al Hithlain. He is King Salman's sixth son. [1]

He was educated in Riyadh schools, ranking among the top ten students in the Kingdom at secondary level, and earned a Bachelor of Law from King Saud University, placing second in his class at the College of Law and Political Science. [1]

After graduating he became an adviser to the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers on 22 Rabi al-Awwal 1428 AH/10 April 2007 CE and special adviser to the Governor of the Riyadh Region on 28 Dhu al-Hijjah 1430 AH/15 December 2009 CE. He also served as secretary-general of the Riyadh Competitiveness Centre and special adviser to the chairman of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah). [1]

A royal order of 20 Rabi al-Akhir 1434 AH/2 March 2013 CE appointed him President of the Crown Prince Court and special adviser to the Crown Prince with the rank of minister, and on 25 Jumada al-Akhirah 1435 AH/25 April 2014 CE he was made Minister of State and a member of the Council of Ministers in addition to his duties. [1] [2] [3]

On 3 Rabi al-Akhir 1436 AH/23 January 2015 CE he was appointed Minister of Defence, Chief of the Royal Court and special adviser to the King with the rank of minister. On 9 Rabi al-Akhir 1436 AH/29 January 2015 CE the Council of Economic and Development Affairs was established under his chairmanship, and on 3 Jumada al-Akhirah 1436 AH/23 March 2015 CE he became chairman of the Public Investment Fund. [1]

On 26 Ramadan 1438 AH/21 June 2017 CE a royal order named him Crown Prince with the support of 31 of the 34 members of the Allegiance Council. Allegiance was pledged to him at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, and he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister while remaining Minister of Defence. [1] [4]

On 20 Rabi al-Akhir 1440 AH/27 December 2018 CE he became chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs, and on 1 Rabi al-Awwal 1444 AH/27 September 2022 CE a royal order made the Crown Prince Prime Minister; in that capacity he chairs the Council of Ministers' sessions. [1] [5] [6]

His other offices include chairing the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Public Investment Fund, the Supreme Council of Saudi Aramco, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the Royal Commission for AlUla, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Committee and the Council of Royal Reserves. [1]

On 18 Rajab 1437 AH/25 April 2016 CE he launched Saudi Vision 2030 as a roadmap for transforming the Kingdom across sectors, built on three pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. [1]

Projects launched under it include NEOM, announced in 2017 on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba as one of the Public Investment Fund's major projects. [1]

Initiatives bearing his name include the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), founded in 2011 to develop young people's skills and nurture talent; the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques, announced in 2018; and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship. [1]