Saudi prince’s policy debacles

Jan 2015: King Salman ascends to throne. Son, Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), becomes defence minister

Mar: MbS launches Saudi-led war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen

Apr 2016: MbS unveils Vision 2030 to make economy less dependent on oil.
Announces plan to sell shares in Saudi Aramco. Boasts oil company is worth $2 trillion

Sep: Prince cuts ministers’ salaries by 20%, scraps public sector bonuses

Oct: MsB buys €500m yacht Serene

Jun 2017: Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef is deposed by royal decree. MbS is made heir apparent

Jun: MbS triggers land, sea and air blockade of Qatar over its close relations with Iran

Sep: Clerics and intellectuals critical of Qatar blockade are arrested

Oct: MbS hosts Davos in the Desert investment conference

Nov 4-21: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (below) is held in Riyadh and forced to announce his resignation on TV. After international pressure PM is released and immediately rescinds his resignation

Nov: Dozens of Saudi Arabian royals, ministers and businessmen are detained in anti-corruption
probe. Assets worth more than $100 billion are seized

Jul 2018: Aramco flotation flounders as experts question $2 trillion valuation

Aug: Riyadh severs diplomatic and trade ties with Canada after tweet by Canadian Foreign
Minister calls for release of Saudi human rights activist Samar Badawi

Oct 23-25: Biggest names in global business and finance boycott crown prince’s second Davos in the Desert, repulsed by killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi consulate in Istanbul


Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters 
Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images
© GRAPHIC NEWS