Mohammed bin Salman’s meteoric rise

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince is to embark on a round of visits to western capitals as he seeks to consolidate his grip on power and press ahead with his ambitious plans to modernise the ultra-conservative nation

Jan 2015: King Salman ascends to throne and names son Mohammed bin Salman – known as MBS – minister of defence

Mar: MBS launches military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Conflict creates world’s worst humanitarian crisis

Apr 2016: MBS unveils Vision 2030 – far-reaching reform plan to diversify economy away from oil

Jun 2017: MBS seen as driving force behind Saudi-led regional blockade imposed on Qatar over its alleged support of terrorism
         
King names MBS heir to throne, pushing aside older cousin Prince Mohammed bin Nayef – veteran head of security services

Sep: Saudi authorities arrest more than 20 clerics and intellectuals in apparent crackdown on dissent

MBS seen to be behind landmark decision to lift ban on women driving from Jun 2018

Nov: Dozens of princes, ministers and businessmen detained in Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel in move billed as anti-corruption sweep but widely seen as purge of political foes

Feb 2018: MBS believed to be behind shake-up of defence establishment in which top military commanders – including chief of staff – are sacked
  
Mar: Crown Prince, 32, expected to visit UK, U.S. and France to shore up kingdom’s image with investors following recent shakedown of Saudi elite



Sources: BBC, FT, Reuters, Bloomberg Pictures: Newscom, Associated Press
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