Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, second deputy premier and interior minister, salutes security officers during a graduation ceremony. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman appointed Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif as the second-in-line to the throne, according to a royal decree issued Friday.

Prince Mohammed will be the deputy crown prince in addition to his present portfolio as the minister of interior.

Prince Mohammed bin Naif was born in Jeddah on Aug. 30, 1959. The prince is the son of the late Crown Prince Naif.

During his primary, preparatory and secondary education, Prince Muhammed studied at the Capital Institute in Riyadh. Then he studied in the United States during the university stage. In 1401, he obtained the BA degree in political science from Lewis and Clark faculty in Portland. He attended a number of advanced military courses related to anti-terrorism in the Kingdom and abroad.

He worked in the private sector until May, 13, 1999, when a Royal Decree was issued appointing him assistant minister of interior for security affairs.

On Oct. 16, 1999, the late King Abdullah — then the crown prince and deputy prime minister and commander of National Guard — issued a royal decree granting him membership in the Supreme Council for Media.

On Jamad Al-Awwal 4, 1425, a royal decree was issued appointing him assistant minister of interior for security affairs. He is a member at the Superior Body of Prince Naif International Prize for the Prophet’s Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies.

Saudi journalist Badr Al-Qahtani told Arab News that Prince Mohammed bin Naif’s appointment as deputy crown prince is good news to all Saudi citizens and peace-loving people. “He was instrumental in playing a major role in wiping out terror from the Kingdom,” Al-Qahtani said, recalling that he was the only member of the royal family who was subjected to a terror attack in 2009. “He was undaunted and marched forward to fight against terror and succeeded in achieving his targets,” the journalist said.

Al-Qahtani said that the prince richly deserves this honor in recognition of his services to the nation.

Musad Al-Zayani, a Saudi journalist based in Dubai, told Arab News that the Kingdom is happy that Prince Mohammed is the first grandson of the late King Abdul Aziz to be in line to the throne. “He has proven his capabilities by handling the terrorism file successfully,” he said, wishing him years of good service to the nation.

Prince Mohammed’s appointment was among the first decrees announced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. He is the youngest Saudi royal to be named to such a high-ranking post.

Western governments noted his “successes” in confronting the global terror network and that Prince Mohammded’s men were the first to detect and prevent Al-Qaeda attacks, said the expert.

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