New Defense Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman appointed Mohammad bin Salman as defense minister here Friday, in what observers have described as an empowering message to young people in the Kingdom.

Prince Mohammad, the son of King Salman, was a state minister, member of the Council of Ministers, and special adviser and head of the crown prince’s court before his new appointment.

At 35 years of age, he is now the youngest member of the Cabinet. The prince, who holds a degree in law from the Riyadh-based King Saud University, thanked the king for showing confidence in him.

Prince Muhammad has been involved in charitable causes and social initiatives supporting the youth and their career aspirations. In 2011, he founded the Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Charity Foundation, popularly known as the MISK Foundation. He has held many positions during his 10-year public career.

“Prince Mohammad’s appointment comes as a result of the successful role he played as head of the crown prince’s court,” said Saleh A. Abdulrahman, a political analyst. The prince became special adviser to Prince Salman in 2009 when the latter was governor of the Riyadh region, he said.

During this time, Prince Mohammad was also a special adviser to the chairman of the board of the prestigious King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives.

A member of the MISK Foundation described the royal decree appointing Prince Mohammad as “exceptionally significant.” He said the appointment of such a young prince indicates the Saudi leadership’s keen desire “to empower the younger generation of the country.”

He said that the prince has been involved in several philanthropic initiatives that earned him many awards. On April 25, 2014, he was appointed a state minister and member of the Council of Ministers.

He is a member of the executive committee for the development of the Diriyah region, and chairman of Riyadh Schools, a chain of Saudi schools. He is also an honorary member of the National Association for Drug Prevention.

Besides being the head of the executive committee of the Prince Salman Charitable Housing Association, which aims to provide housing for low-income families, Prince Mohammad is also the head of the financial committee for the Holy Qur’an Association in Riyadh.

He is also on the board of trustees of the Al-Bir Society in Riyadh region and board member of the Bin Baz Foundation. Forbes Middle East awarded Prince Mohammad, in his capacity as chairman of the Prince Salman Youth Center, its Personality of the Year Prize, recognizing his efforts to support the youth.

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