History of Mohammed bin Salman in Timeline
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.
1978: General Accounting Office report on oil reserves
In 1978, the General Accounting Office mentioned 110 billion barrels of crude oil in a report. This report is brought to light to question the sustainability of oil resources by 2030.
August 1985: Birth of Mohammed bin Salman
In August 1985, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud was born. He is the son of the future King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain.
August 1985: Mohammed bin Salman's birth
In August 1985, Mohammed bin Salman was born to Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. He is the eldest of his mother's children and the seventh son of his father.
April 2008: Mohammed Marries Sara bint Mashour
In April 2008, Mohammed married his first cousin Sara bint Mashour, a daughter of his paternal uncle Mashour bin Abdulaziz. The couple has five children.
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.
2011: Yemeni Uprising
In 2011, Yemen experienced an uprising that led to multilateral efforts towards a political settlement, which were later disrupted by the Houthi takeover in 2015.
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.
2012: US-Saudi Trade Relations Peak
In 2012, US-Saudi trade relations reached a height of 76 billion dollars.
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.
February 2014: Saudi Arabia purchases Canadian armaments
In February 2014, the Saudi government purchased Canadian armaments worth CA$15 billion in total.
April 2014: Appointment as State Minister
In April 2014, Mohammed bin Salman was appointed as state minister.
2014: Alleged Plan to Kill King Abdullah
In 2014, according to Saad al-Jabri, Mohammed bin Salman allegedly mentioned a plan to Interior Minister Muhammad bin Nayef Al Saud to kill King Abdullah, which would allow Mohammed's father to take the throne.
2014: China Becomes Saudi Arabia's Largest Economic Partner
Since 2014, China has been Saudi Arabia's largest economic partner and Saudi Arabia is the biggest source of China's oil imports.
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.
March 2015: Military intervention in Yemen begins
In March 2015, Saudi Arabia, led by Mohammed bin Salman as minister of defense, began a military intervention in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, launching air strikes and imposing a naval blockade.
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: Announcement of Anti-Terrorist Military Alliance
In December 2015, Mohammed bin Salman announced an anti-terrorist military alliance of Islamic countries, with some countries involved stating they had not been consulted.
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.
December 2015: German Intelligence Prediction
In December 2015, the German Federal Intelligence Service published a memo predicting the change of succession in Saudi Arabia, which was later rebuked by the German government.
2015: Start of Famine in Yemen
From 2015 to May 2019, approximately 85,000 children died in Yemen, and it is said that the famine in Yemen is the direct result of the Saudi-led intervention and blockade of the rebel-held area.
2015: Saudi-Led Intervention in Yemen
In 2015, Mohammed bin Salman led the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, who seized Sana'a and ousted the Saudi-backed Hadi government, ending multilateral efforts towards a political settlement following the 2011 Yemeni uprising.
2015: Mohammed Purchases Yacht and Château
In 2015, Mohammed purchased the Italian-built yacht Serene from Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for €500 million. Also in 2015, he purchased the Château Louis XIV in France for over $300 million.
2015: Arrest of Israa al-Ghomgham
In 2015, human rights activist Israa al-Ghomgham and her husband were arrested, later facing the threat of beheading. Human Rights Watch warned that the al-Ghomgham case set a "dangerous precedent" for other women activists currently detained.
January 2016: German Intelligence Agency's Assessment of Mohammed bin Salman
On 10 January 2016, The Independent reported that the BND, the German intelligence agency, portrayed Saudi defence minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a political gambler who is destabilising the Arab world through proxy wars in Yemen and Syria.
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.
August 2016: Meeting with Donald Trump Jr.
In August 2016, Donald Trump Jr., the son of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, had a meeting with an envoy representing Mohammed bin Salman and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed. The envoy offered help to the Trump campaign.
November 2016: Admission of Defeat in Oil Market Strategy
In November 2016, Saudi Arabia admitted defeat in its plan to restore dominance in global oil markets by driving new competition into bankruptcy. The country cut production significantly and asked its OPEC partners to do the same.
2016: Agreement to Cooperate with Russia in Global Oil Markets
In 2016, Mohammed bin Salman signed an agreement to cooperate with Russia in global oil markets, strengthening the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
2016: Sharing Green Card Idea
In 2016, Mohammed shared his idea for "Green cards" for non-Saudi foreigners with Al Arabiya journalist Turki Aldakhil.
2016: Saudi Arabia and Iran cut diplomatic ties
Saudi Arabia and Iran cut diplomatic ties in 2016.
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.
April 2017: Comments on US Cultural Influence
In April 2017, Mohammed bin Salman told The Washington Post that without America's cultural influence on Saudi Arabia, "we would have ended up like North Korea."
May 2017: Launch of Anti-Corruption Campaign
In May 2017, Mohammed bin Salman launched a purge against competing Saudi business and political elites in an anti-corruption campaign.
June 2017: Saudi Arabia spearheads diplomatic crisis with Qatar
On 5 June 2017, Saudi Arabia under Mohammed spearheaded a diplomatic crisis with Qatar together with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, with the countries severing diplomatic relations with Qatar and effectively imposing a blockade on the country.
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.
September 2017: Arrests of Human Rights Activists
In September 2017, amidst a wave of arrests, Abdulaziz al-Shubaily, Mustafa al-Hassan, and Essam al-Zamel were among those detained.
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".
October 2017: Criticism of Aramco's IPO Listing Plan
In October 2017, The Economist criticized the plan for Saudi Aramco's IPO listing, calling it "a mess".
November 2017: Saad Hariri forced to resign
In November 2017, Mohammed forced Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri to resign when he visited Saudi Arabia, believing that Hariri was influenced by Iran-backed Hezbollah.
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: Airstrikes Following Houthi Missile Attack
Following a Houthi missile attack against Riyadh in December 2017, which was intercepted by Saudi air defence, airstrikes killed 136 Yemeni civilians and injured 87 others in eleven days.
December 2017: Criticism of US Decision on Jerusalem
In December 2017, Mohammed bin Salman criticised the United States' decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
December 2017: First Public Concert by a Female Singer
In December 2017, Saudi Arabia held its first public concert by a female singer.
December 2017: Reported Purchase of Salvator Mundi
In December 2017, it was reported that Mohammed, through an intermediary, bought Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci for $450 million, setting a new record price for art. However, this report has been denied by multiple parties, and the painting is now thought to be in storage in Geneva and is planned to be displayed in a new museum in Riyadh.
2017: Saudi Arabia Provided Weapons to Syrian Opposition Groups
In 2017 it was reported that Saudi Arabia provided weapons to Syrian opposition groups, fighting against the Assad regime, which then ended up in the hands of Islamic State members.
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: Trade Between China and Saudi Arabia Increases
Since Mohammed became crown prince in 2017, trade between China and Saudi Arabia has increased.
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.
May 2018: Bezos' phone was allegedly hacked via WhatsApp
In May 2018, Bezos' phone was allegedly hacked by a multimedia message sent from Mohammed's WhatsApp account, after which the phone begun transmitting dramatically higher amounts of data.
June 2018: Arrests of Women's Rights Activists
Ahead of the lifting of the ban on women driving in June 2018, 17 women's rights activists were arrested, including Loujain al-Hathloul. Eight of the 17 were subsequently released. Hatoon al-Fassi was arrested shortly afterwards.
August 2018: Report claims Tillerson stopped Saudi-Emirati plan to invade Qatar
In August 2018, a report by The Intercept cited unnamed sources claiming that former US secretary of state Rex Tillerson had in June 2017 intervened to stop a Saudi-Emirati plan to invade Qatar, resulting in increased pressure from Saudi Arabia and the UAE for his removal from office.
August 2018: United Nations Report on Human Rights Violations in Yemen
In August 2018, the United Nations reported that all parties in the conflict in Yemen were responsible for human rights violations and for actions which could be considered war crimes.
August 2018: Saudi Arabia expels Canada's ambassador and freezes trade
In response to Canada's criticism of the arrest of Samar Badawi on 2 August 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador and froze trade with Canada.
August 2018: Saudi students enrolled in Canadian schools
Until August 2018, there were over 16,000 Saudi students enrolled in Canadian schools on government scholarships.
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: UN Warning of Starvation Risk in Yemen
In October 2018, Lise Grande, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, warned that 12 to 13 million Yemenis were at risk of starvation if the war continued for another three months.
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: Jamal Khashoggi goes missing
In October 2018, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Mohammed, went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials reportedly believe that Khashoggi was murdered at the consulate.
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.
November 2018: Message from Mohammed to Bezos includes image
In November 2018, a message from Mohammed to Bezos includes an image resembling the woman Bezos was having an affair with, despite the affair not being public knowledge at the time.
November 2018: CIA Concludes Mohammed Ordered Khashoggi's Murder
In November 2018, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded with "high confidence" that Mohammed ordered Khashoggi's murder. This conclusion was based on evidence including an intercepted conversation where Mohammed's brother Khalid assured Khashoggi it was safe to enter the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, reportedly at Mohammed's direction. The CIA believed the killing was motivated by Mohammed's belief that Khashoggi was an Islamist with problematic connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.
December 2018: US Senators Briefed on Khashoggi Murder, UN Calls for Investigation
In December 2018, US senators were briefed by the CIA director on the Khashoggi murder, leading them to believe Mohammed played a major role. Senator Lindsey Graham stated Mohammed was "intrinsically involved" in Khashoggi's demise. Senator Bob Corker said that the prince "ordered, monitored, the killing" and "If he were in front of a jury, he would be convicted of murder in about 30 minutes." Also in December 2018, the UN Human Rights chief requested an international investigation to find who was behind the assassination.
December 2018: Mohammed Denies Knowledge of Khashoggi Murder in Advance
In December 2018, in a PBS documentary, Mohammed took responsibility for the killing of Khashoggi since it happened under his watch but he denied any knowledge of the murder in advance.
2018: Jamal Khashoggi's Murder
In 2018, Jamal Khashoggi was murdered, which led to Joe Biden describing Mohammed as a pariah in 2019.
2018: Mohammed bin Salman's Desire to Maintain US Military Presence in Syria
In 2018, Mohammed bin Salman reportedly wanted the US military presence to maintain in Syria, despite Donald Trump's declaring the withdrawal of American forces from the war-torn country.
2018: Support for a Jewish Homeland of Israel
In 2018, Mohammed bin Salman voiced his support for a Jewish homeland of Israel, the first time that a senior Saudi royal has expressed such sentiments publicly.
2018: Ranked Among World's Most Powerful People
In 2018, Mohammed was ranked by Forbes as the eighth most powerful person in the world, with a personal wealth of at least $25 billion.
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.
2018: Saad al-Jabri stays in Canada
Saad al-Jabri, who was the US anti-terrorism contact in the Middle East, was staying in Canada since 2018.
January 2019: Completion of Anti-Corruption Committee's Work
In January 2019, the Anti-Corruption Committee's work was declared complete, with as many as 500 people rounded up. Saudi Arabian banks froze over 2,000 domestic accounts, targeting up to $800 billion in cash and assets.
February 2019: Mohammed bin Salman defends China's policies in Xinjiang
In February 2019, Mohammed defended China's policies in Xinjiang, where more than 1 million Uyghurs were put into internment camps, saying "China has the right to carry out anti-terrorism and de-extremisation work for its national security.".
February 2019: Text from Mohammed to Bezos
In February 2019, a text from Mohammed to Bezos urges Bezos not to believe everything, after Bezos was briefed on the phone regarding an Internet campaign against him conducted by Saudis.
March 2019: Allegations of Saudi Arabia hacking Jeff Bezos's phone
In March 2019, Gavin de Becker, a security specialist working for Jeff Bezos, accused Saudi Arabia of hacking Bezos's phone.
March 2019: US Senators Accuse Saudi Arabia of Human Rights Violations
In March 2019, US senators accused Saudi Arabia for repetitive misdeeds and criticized Mohammed, saying he has gone "full gangster". The senators stated that the list of human rights violations by Saudi Arabia is too long to comprehend the situation in the kingdom or even work with Mohammed.
May 2019: Child Deaths in Yemen
From 2015 to May 2019 the number of total deaths of children is said to be approximately 85,000 due to the famine in Yemen, directly resulting from the Saudi-led intervention and blockade of the rebel-held area.
June 2019: The Guardian Claims Hacking Attempts by Saudi Cybersecurity Subdivision
In June 2019, The Guardian reported that after Khashoggi's assassination, the media group became a target of hacking attempts by a Saudi cybersecurity subdivision, as per an internal order document.
June 2019: UN Report Links Mohammed to Khashoggi Assassination
In June 2019, a UN report titled "Annex to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: Investigation into the unlawful death of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi" linked Mohammed to the assassination.
August 2019: Offer to Loujain al-Hathloul for conditional release
In August 2019, Loujain al-Hathloul's brother Walid informed the media that his sister was offered release on the condition that she deny the human rights abuses committed against her in Saudi prison. Loujain refused the offer.
September 2019: Condemnation of Netanyahu's Plans to Annex Jordan Valley
In September 2019, Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to annex the eastern portion of the West Bank known as the Jordan Valley.
September 2019: Mohammed Takes Full Responsibility for Khashoggi Killing
In September 2019, Mohammed denied any personal involvement in the Khashoggi killing in an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes, but said that he had to take "full responsibility for what happened".
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: Joe Biden criticizes Mohammed bin Salman
In 2019, during the Trump administration, Joe Biden criticized Mohammed bin Salman, describing him as a pariah due to the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
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.
January 2020: Results of FTI Consulting's Forensic Investigation of Bezos' Phone Made Public
In January 2020, the results of FTI Consulting's forensic investigation of Bezos' phone were made public, concluding with "medium to high confidence" that Bezos' phone was hacked by a multimedia message sent in May 2018 from Mohammed's WhatsApp account.
March 2020: Saudi government detains Omar and Sarah, the children of Saad al-Jabri
In March 2020, the Saudi government detained Omar and Sarah, Saad al-Jabri's children.
March 2020: Arrest of Muhammad bin Nayef
On 6 March 2020, Muhammad bin Nayef was arrested, along with his half-brother Nawwaf bin Nayef and King Salman's brother Ahmed bin Abdulaziz. The three princes were charged with treason.
April 2020: Abolishment of Flogging
On 26 April 2020, the Supreme Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia abolished flogging as a punishment in the country.
July 2020: US Senators Urge Trump to Secure Freedom of al-Jabri's Children
On 9 July 2020, four United States senators urged President Trump to secure the freedom of Saad al-Jabri's children Omar and Sarah.
September 2020: Mohammed bin Salman served lawsuit via WhatsApp
Documents filed to the court revealed that on 22 September 2020, Mohammed was served the lawsuit at 4:05 p.m. ET via WhatsApp.
2020: Meeting with Netanyahu and Yosi Cohen in Neom
In 2020, Mohammed bin Salman met with Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli head of the Mossad Yosi Cohen in Neom.
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.
January 2021: Resolution of Qatar diplomatic crisis
On 4 January 2021, Qatar and Saudi Arabia agreed to a resolution of the crisis brokered by Kuwait and the United States, which stated that Saudi Arabia will reopen its border with Qatar and begin the process for reconciliation. An agreement and final communiqué signed on 5 January 2021 following a GCC summit at Al-'Ula marks the resolution of the crisis.
February 2021: US Intelligence Report States Mohammed Approved Khashoggi Operation
On February 25, 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a declassified report which stated that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
February 2021: UN Special Rapporteur Urges Sanctions Against Crown Prince
On February 26, 2021, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnès Callamard released a statement urging the United States Government to impose sanctions against the Crown Prince, targeting his personal assets and international engagements.
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.
July 2021: Saudi deputy defence minister visits the United States
In July 2021, six months into the Biden presidency, Saudi deputy defence minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud (Mohammed's brother) visited the United States. It was the first meeting between senior US and Saudi officials after Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in 2018.
September 2021: Jake Sullivan meets with Mohammed bin Salman
In September 2021, Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Mohammed bin Salman, during which Mohammed reportedly shouted at Sullivan after he raised the killing of Khashoggi.
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.
2021: Trade Between China and Saudi Arabia Increased
By 2021, trade between China and Saudi Arabia has increased from $51.5 billion to $87.5 billion since Mohammed became crown prince in 2017.
2021: Military Cooperation Agreement with Russia
In 2021, Mohammed bin Salman signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia, further solidifying the ties between the two countries.
2021: US-Saudi Trade Relations Sink
In 2021, US-Saudi trade relations sunk to just about 29 billion dollars.
2021: Saad al-Jabri's Allegations Against Mohammed bin Salman
In 2021, the former Saudi intelligence official Saad al-Jabri said in an interview with CBS that Mohammed bin Salman mentioned to Interior Minister Muhammad bin Nayef Al Saud plans to kill King Abdullah in 2014.
2021: China assists in Saudi Arabia's ballistic missile programme
Since 2021, China has been assisting in Saudi Arabia's ballistic missile programme by transferring technology and making joint ventures for missile production.
April 2022: CIA director William Burns meets with Mohammed bin Salman
In April 2022, CIA director William Burns traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with Mohammed, asking him to increase the country's oil production. They also discussed Saudi weapons purchases from China.
April 2022: Meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister
In April 2022, Prince Mohammed met with newly elected Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the al-Salam palace.
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.
October 2022: US Accusation of Saudi Arabia Coercing Oil Production Cuts
In October 2022, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby accused Saudi Arabia of coercing other oil-producing countries to agree to oil production cuts, knowing it would increase Russian revenues and blunt the effectiveness of sanctions.
November 2022: Mohammed Receives US Immunity Over Khashoggi's Murder
In November 2022, due to his new role as the Saudi prime minister, Mohammed received US immunity over Khashoggi's murder. However, Biden's administration emphasized that this was not a determination of innocence.
December 2022: Xi Jinping Visits Saudi Arabia
From 7–10 December 2022, Mohammed hosted Chinese president Xi Jinping in Riyadh for talks, where Xi signed numerous commercial deals with Saudi Arabia and formally elevated the relationship to comprehensive strategic partnership.
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.
2022: Saudi Arabia and China Conclude Arms Deal
During the 2022 Airshow China held in Zhuhai, Saudi Arabia and China concluded arms deal worth $4 billion. Under the contract, Saudi Arabia purchased hundreds of Chinese drones, ballistic missiles, Silent Hunter DEWs in addition to technology transfer that enables indigenous manufacturing of various armaments.
2022: Reconciliation with Turkey
In 2022, Mohammed bin Salman led a reconciliation with Turkey, leading to improved relations between the countries.
2022: Report of Mohammed Beating His Wife
In 2022, The Economist reported that on at least one occasion, Mohammed beat Sara so severely that she required medical treatment.
2022: OPEC+ Announces Cut in Oil Production
In 2022, relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia became strained after OPEC+ announced a cut in oil production by two million barrels a day. The US government accused Saudi Arabia of siding with Russia in its war against Ukraine, which the Saudi government denied.
March 2023: Saudi Arabia Begins Talks to Bring Syria Back into the Arab League
In March 2023, Saudi Arabia began talks to bring Syria back into the Arab League and provided economic support after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake on 6 February.
March 2023: Saudi Arabia and Iran Agree to Restore Diplomatic Ties
On 10 March 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic ties cut in 2016 after a deal brokered between the two countries by China following secret talks in Beijing.
May 2023: Bashar al-Assad Attends Arab League Summit in Jeddah
In May 2023, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad attended the Arab League summit in Jeddah where he was received by Mohammed.
May 2023: Diplomatic Ties Restored Between Canada and Saudi Arabia
On 24 May 2023, diplomatic ties between Canada and Saudi Arabia were restored.
July 2023: Deal for Saudi Arabia to Purchase Turkish Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı Drones
In July 2023, the Crown Prince and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdou011fan agreed to a major deal for Saudi Arabia to purchase Turkish Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı drones.
December 2023: Putin's Visit to Saudi Arabia
In December 2023, Vladimir Putin visited Saudi Arabia and met with Mohammed bin Salman, underscoring the strengthened relationship between the two countries.
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.
2023: U.S.-Led Negotiations for Diplomatic Relations Between Saudi Arabia and Israel
In 2023, there were ongoing U.S. lead negotiations to establish diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Mohammed also said that his country was moving steadily closer to normalising relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords.
January 2024: Comments on the Palestinian Issue
Amid the Gaza war, in January 2024, Mohammed told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he was open to Saudi normalization with Israel, adding, "Do I care personally about the Palestinian issue? I don't, but my people do."
August 2024: Concerns of Assassination
In August 2024, Mohammad discussed his fears of facing assassination due to his support for establishing and normalizing Saudi-Israel ties, and the threats he received.
September 2024: Saudi Arabia Will Not Normalize Relations with Israel Until Palestine is Recognized as a State
Following the events in Gaza and Israel's attacks in Lebanon and Syria on 17 and 18 September 2024, Mohammad declared during the annual address to the Shura Council on 19 September 2024, that Saudi Arabia would not normalize relations with Israel until Palestine is recognized as a state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
2024: Scaling Back of Neom Project
In 2024, it was reported that the Neom project had been substantially scaled back from its original plan. An internal audit found extensive problems, including evidence of deliberate manipulation by the project's managers.
March 2025: Hosting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh
On 10 March 2025, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh, ahead of U.S.-Ukraine talks, positioning Saudi Arabia as a neutral mediator in global conflicts.
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.
2025: New Contracts for Neom Dried Up
By 2025, new contracts for Neom dried up and there was no mention of Neom in Saudi Arabia's pre-budget statement for 2026.
2026: No Mention of Neom in Saudi Arabia's Pre-Budget Statement
By 2025, new contracts for Neom dried up and there was no mention of Neom in Saudi Arabia's pre-budget statement for 2026.
2029: Hosting the Asian Games
Mohammed bin Salman has been striking deals to bring top sports events to Saudi, including the Asian Games in 2029.
2030: Plans to incorporate Saudi Vision 2030 into the Belt and Road Initiative
In 2019, Chinese officials announced plans to incorporate Saudi Vision 2030 into the Belt and Road Initiative, and expand economic, cultural, strategic and military co-operation.
2030: Plans for 2,000 Cinema Screens
In April 2018, the first public cinema opened in Saudi Arabia after a ban of 35 years, with plans to have more than 2,000 screens running by 2030.
2030: Vision 2030 implementation
Vision 2030, introduced in April 2016, aims to address Saudi Arabia's reliance on a rentier economy, which could face sustainability issues by 2030 due to limitations on oil resources.
2034: Hosting FIFA Club World Cup
Mohammed bin Salman has been striking deals to bring top sports events to Saudi, including the FIFA Club World Cup in 2034.
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