Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Several Saudi citizens have welcomed the new appointments to the Cabinet announced by the royal court on Wednesday.

“I am happy about the new appointees announced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman,” said Mohsin Shaikh Al-Hassan, a well-known Islamic scholar, author and television show host.

The new men are relatively young, achievers and have shown their leadership capabilities, he said, in reference to Prince Mohammed bin Naif, 56, replacing Prince Muqrin as the crown prince, Adel Al-Jubeir, 53, taking over the foreign minister’s position from Prince Saud Al-Faisal, and Mohammed bin Salman, 35, who is now the deputy crown prince.

Al-Hassan said Al-Jubeir is young and qualified. He graduated summa cum laude in political science and economics from the University of Texas in 1982, and earned a master’s degree from Georgetown University in 1984.

Abdulaziz M. Aldosari, director of scholarships at the dispatch department of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, also welcomed the new appointments.

“I am happy that young officials have been appointed to different positions in the government. This means that verve and vigor are being infused into the Saudi leadership,” he said.

Aldosari, who is a paraplegic, said he was happy that the king appointed Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Prince Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince and deputy crown prince; and Khalid Al-Falih, head of Saudi Aramco, as health minister.

Ibrahim Al-Ogaily, a journalist working for a news agency, said the king had done a good thing by appointing young people to top government positions. “The appointment of a young and bright career man at the foreign ministry is laudable. Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir is bright and energetic,” he said.

Prince Mohammed bin Naif, the former deputy crown prince, attended Federal Bureau of Investigation courses from 1985 to 1988 and trained at Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorism units from 1992 to 1994. He has successfully run the Ministry of Interior’s counterterrorism program. He was appointed assistant interior minister in 1999.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a graduate of King Saud University with a bachelor’s degree in law. He entered public service as special adviser to his father King Salman when the latter was still the governor of Riyadh.

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