Career Timeline of Mohammed bin Salman: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Mohammed bin Salman built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MbS) is the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, effectively the de facto ruler. As the heir apparent and son of King Salman, he is positioned to become the next King. His leadership is characterized by significant social and economic reforms under the Vision 2030 plan, alongside a more assertive foreign policy. He has been lauded for modernizing aspects of Saudi society while also facing criticism regarding his human rights record and involvement in events such as the Yemen war and the Khashoggi killing.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

December 2009: Appointment as Special Advisor

In December 2009, at the age of 24, Mohammed bin Salman entered politics as a special advisor to his father, who was then the governor of Riyadh Province.

October 2011: Prince Salman becomes second deputy prime minister and minister of defence

In October 2011, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz died, leading Prince Salman to become second deputy prime minister and minister of defence, making Mohammed his private advisor.

June 2012: Father becomes Crown Prince

In June 2012, after the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Mohammed bin Salman's father became the new crown prince and first deputy prime minister.

March 2013: Appointment as Chief of the Crown Prince Court

In March 2013, Mohammed bin Salman became the chief of the Crown Prince Court, succeeding Saud bin Nayef Al Saud, and was given the rank of minister.

April 2014: Appointment as State Minister

In April 2014, Mohammed bin Salman was appointed as state minister.

January 2015: Named Chair of Council for Economic and Development Affairs

In January 2015, Mohammed bin Salman was named the chair of the newly established Council for Economic and Development Affairs.

January 2015: Ascension to Minister of Defence

In January 2015, upon King Abdullah's death and Salman's ascension to the throne, Mohammed bin Salman was appointed minister of defence and secretary general of the royal court, while also retaining his post as minister of state.

April 2015: Appointed Deputy Crown Prince

In April 2015, King Salman appointed his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef as crown prince and his son Mohammed bin Salman as deputy crown prince.

April 2015: Control Over Saudi Aramco

In April 2015, Mohammed bin Salman was given control over Saudi Aramco by royal decree after being appointed deputy crown prince.

December 2015: Establishment of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC)

In December 2015, Mohammed bin Salman established the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) against terrorism.

January 2016: Interview with The Economist

On January 4, 2016, Mohammed bin Salman gave his first on-the-record interview to The Economist, discussing his role in the Yemen war and denying the title of "architect of the war in Yemen."

April 2016: Introduction of Vision 2030

In April 2016, Mohammed bin Salman officially announced Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's strategic orientation for the next 15 years. The plan aims to reform Saudi Arabia's economy towards a more diversified and privatised structure.

April 2016: Implementation of New Taxes and Economic Reforms

In April 2016, the first measures undertaken included new taxes and cuts in subsidies, a diversification plan, the creation of a $2 trillion Saudi sovereign wealth fund, and a series of strategic economic reforms called the National Transformation Programme.

2016: Sharing Green Card Idea

In 2016, Mohammed shared his idea for "Green cards" for non-Saudi foreigners with Al Arabiya journalist Turki Aldakhil.

February 2017: Appointment of First Woman to Head Saudi Stock Exchange

In February 2017, Saudi Arabia appointed its first woman to head the Saudi Stock Exchange, marking a milestone in the country's efforts towards gender equality in leadership roles.

April 2017: Announcement of Qiddiya City Project

In April 2017, Mohammed announced a project to build one of the world's largest cultural, sports, and entertainment cities in Qiddiya, southwest of Riyadh. The plans include a safari and a Six Flags theme park.

June 2017: Appointed Crown Prince

On June 21, 2017, Mohammed bin Salman was appointed crown prince, succeeding Muhammad bin Nayef.

September 2017: Lifting the Ban on Female Drivers

In September 2017, Mohammed bin Salman implemented the women to drive movement's multi-decade demand to lift the ban on female drivers in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant reform.

October 2017: Announcement of Neom Project

In October 2017, Mohammed announced plans for the creation of Neom, a linear city powered by renewable energy sources, covering an area of 26,000 square kilometers on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, extending into Jordan and Egypt.

October 2017: Aim to Return to Moderate Islam

In October 2017, Mohammed said that the ultra-conservative Saudi state had not been "normal" for the past 30 years, blaming rigid doctrines that had governed society in reaction to the Iranian Revolution. He aimed to have Saudi Arabia start "returning to what we were before—a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world".

November 2017: Announcement of Tourist Visas

In November 2017, it was announced that Saudi Arabia would start issuing tourist visas for foreigners, beginning in 2018, in an effort to boost the tourism industry.

November 2017: First IMCTC Meeting

In November 2017, the first meeting of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) took place in Riyadh, involving defence ministers and officials from 41 countries.

December 2017: First Public Concert by a Female Singer

In December 2017, Saudi Arabia held its first public concert by a female singer.

2017: Mohammed bin Salman invited to White House and defends Trump administration's travel ban

In 2017, Mohammed bin Salman, then deputy crown prince, was invited to the White House and defended the Trump administration's travel ban for nationals of 7 Muslim-majority countries. He stated that "Saudi Arabia does not believe that this measure is targeting Muslim countries or the religion of Islam".

2017: Increased Spending on Sports

Since becoming Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler in 2017, Mohammed has overseen unprecedented spending on sport and has struck deals to bring top sports events to Saudi.

January 2018: Women Allowed in Jeddah Sports Stadium

In January 2018, a sports stadium in Jeddah became the first in the Kingdom to admit women.

February 2018: Legal Right for Women to Open Businesses

In February 2018, it became legally possible for Saudi women to open their own businesses without needing a male's permission, marking another step towards women's empowerment.

March 2018: Saudi Arabia and UAE Donation to the United Nations

On 28 March 2018, Saudi Arabia, along with its coalition partner the UAE, donated US$930 million to the United Nations to help alleviate the suffering of millions of vulnerable people across Yemen.

March 2018: Mothers Authorized to Retain Custody of Children After Divorce

According to the Saudi Information Ministry, as of March 2018, mothers in Saudi Arabia became authorised to retain immediate custody of their children after divorce without having to file any lawsuits.

April 2018: First Public Cinema Opens

In April 2018, the first public cinema opened in Saudi Arabia after a ban of 35 years.

September 2018: Inauguration of Haramain Express Railway Line

In September 2018, Mohammed inaugurated the Haramain Express, a $6.7 billion high-speed railway line connecting Mecca and Medina.

October 2018: Announcement of Public Investment Fund Assets

In October 2018, Mohammed announced that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia's assets were approaching $400 billion and would pass $600 billion by 2020.

October 2018: Commercial Operations of Haramain Railway Begin

The Haramain Express high-speed railway line connecting Mecca and Medina, inaugurated in September 2018, began commercial operations on 11 October 2018.

November 2018: Announcement of Nuclear Reactor Project

In November 2018, Mohammed announced a project to build Saudi Arabia's first nuclear reactor. The kingdom aims to build 16 nuclear facilities over the next 20 years. In the same month, a 1.8 gigawatt solar plant was announced as part of a long-term project in partnership with SoftBank.

2018: Issuance of Tourist Visas Begins

In November 2017, it was announced that Saudi Arabia would start issuing tourist visas for foreigners, beginning in 2018, in an effort to boost the tourism industry.

September 2019: CBS 60 Minutes Interview

In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes that aired on 29 September 2019, Mohammed invited people to visit the kingdom to see the transformation, asking for people to meet Saudi citizens for themselves.

2019: Approval of Premium Residency Scheme

In 2019, the Saudi cabinet approved a new residency scheme (Premium Residency) for foreigners, enabling expatriates to permanently reside, own property, and invest in the Kingdom.

April 2020: Abolishment of Flogging

On 26 April 2020, the Supreme Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia abolished flogging as a punishment in the country.

2020: Projected PIF Assets to Pass $600 Billion

In October 2018, Mohammed announced that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia's assets were approaching $400 billion and would pass $600 billion by 2020.

April 2021: Criticism of Wahhabi Doctrines

In April 2021, Mohammed bin Salman criticized Saudi religious leaders' devotion to Wahhabi doctrines during a televised interview, stating that there are no fixed schools of thought and fatwas should be based on the time, place, and mindset in which they are issued.

September 2021: Meeting with Jake Sullivan to Discuss Oil Prices

On 28 September 2021, Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met with Mohammed in Saudi Arabia to discuss the high oil prices.

2021: Codification of Saudi Laws

As of early 2021, Mohammed ordered a codification of Saudi laws to end the power of individual Wahhabi judges' interpretations of Sharia. Many conservative clerics were allegedly intimidated into supporting the government line on issues like opening cinemas and mass layoffs of Wahhabi imams.

September 2022: Appointment as Prime Minister

In September 2022, Mohammed bin Salman was appointed as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia by King Salman, a role traditionally held by the king himself.

December 2022: Ban on Abayas in Examination Centres

In December 2022, Saudi Arabia's Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) banned Muslim female students from wearing abayas to examination centres, requiring them to wear school uniforms instead. The ban was later clarified to apply only to all-female examination centres run by the ETEC.

2023: Sports Central to Tourism Goals

In 2023, Mohammed said this approach is central to the country's goal of becoming one of the world's top 10 tourist destinations.

May 2025: Donald Trump Visits Saudi Arabia and Signs Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement

From 13 to 16 May 2025, Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates and signed a "strategic economic partnership" agreement with Mohammed. The visit elevated Mohammed's standing within the Saudi government.