Who is Mohammed Bin Salman, the powerful Saudi Arabia Crown Prince hosting PM Modi in Jeddah

On August 31, 1985, Mohammed bin Salman (popularly known as MBS) was born to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and his wife Fahda bint Falah bin Sultan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Invited by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, this trip will be PM Modi’s third to the Kingdom.

All his previous visits have been to Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Indira Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Jeddah way back in 1982.

PM Modi will travel to Jeddah on the kingdom’s Red Sea coast, where he will meet Salman. Both are likely to engage in bilateral talks amid sweeping US tariffs that have rattled the global market.

“Every time I have met him; His Royal Highness has left a deep impression on me. His insights, his forward-thinking vision, and his passion for fulfilling the aspirations of his people are truly remarkable,” PM Modi told Arab News in an interview ahead of his two-day visit to the country.

Who is Mohammed bin Salman?

On August 31, 1985, Mohammed bin Salman (popularly known as MBS) was born to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and his wife Fahda bint Falah bin Sultan.

He received his primary education in Riyadh, the country’s capital, where he was ranked among the kingdom’s top 10 students. He obtained a law degree from King Saud University. Throughout his time as a university student, Salman also took part in various training programmes.

After completing his education, Salman built a number of firms before he became involved in governmental work. He served as secretary-general of the Riyadh Competitive Council, special adviser to the chairman of the board for the King Abdulaziz Foundation, and member of the board of trustees for the Albir Society for development.

His political journey began when he was appointed a full-time adviser to the Council of Ministers for two years in 2007.

In 2009, he became special adviser to his father, who was then governor of Riyadh.

The prince was appointed defence minister on January 23, 2015, after his father’s accession to the throne. In the same year, he was named deputy crown prince. Shortly after becoming defence minister, MBS had launched a military intervention in Yemen to crush the Iranian-backed Shia Houthi rebels.

In 2017, King Salman removed his nephew Mohammed bin Nayef as crown prince and formally placed MBS first in line to the throne. In 2022, he was named Saudi Arabia’s prime minister, a post typically held by the king.

In 2008, Salman married Princess Sarah bint Mashhoor bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and together they have five children.

Reforms by Salman

He introduced Vision 2030 in 2016. It is Saudi Arabia’s vision of the future aimed at making the kingdom the heart of the Arab and Islamic world, an investment powerhouse, and a hub that connects three continents. The vision also aims at making Saudi Arabia less reliant on oil. By 2030, the initiative also aims to establish an e-government system.

The crown prince also called for more entertainment options in the kingdom for both families and youth. He also lifted a 35-year ban on cinemas in 2017. He also officially revoked the ban the same year by allowing women behind the wheel for the first time in decades.

According to a report by NDTV, millions of women have entered the job market since 2016, becoming  bankers, shoe sellers, business owners, and border officers, among other professions.

Developments on deeper energy ties are expected from PM Modi’s visit, as are several memoranda of understanding, India’s foreign secretary said before the trip, without giving details.