The first 100 days of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who ascended the throne on Jan. 23, were momentous as he took a number of important decisions, including the historic resolution to launch Operation Decisive Storm.

King Salman, who is the seventh king of Saudi Arabia, issued more than 60 royal decrees during the last three months. He reshuffled the Cabinet two times in order to infuse new blood and induct highly qualified hands to the top decision-making body.

King Salman has won international recognition for his achievements within a short span. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “King Salman has accomplished in 10 days tasks that new leaders usually took 100 days.”

The king nullified 12 specialized committees and councils including the National Security Council and replaced them with two high power bodies: The Council of Political and Security Affairs and the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. He also allocated SR110 billion to boost service facilities.

Soon after becoming the king, he appointed Prince Muqrin as crown prince and Prince Mohammed bin Naif as deputy crown prince heralding smooth transition of power in the country, a move that has been widely acclaimed by world leaders as well as political analysts.

King Salman also ordered payment of two-month salary bonus to retirees, government employees, social insurance beneficiaries and foreign scholarship students. He announced that the government would continue its foreign scholarship program, which has been instrumental in training highly qualified Saudi hands required by public and private institutions.

Within six days after ascending the throne, King Salman issued 34 royal decrees, which included appointment of new ministers and officials.

Last Wednesday, he issued another set of royal decrees to reorganize the administration and appointed Prince Mohammed bin Naif as the new crown prince in place of Prince Muqrin, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the deputy crown prince.

Political analysts have commended King Salman for appointing King Abdul Aziz’s grandsons as crown prince and deputy crown prince in order to ensure continuity of political stability and strengthen the administration with young and capable leaders.

Prince Mohammed bin Naif has won international applause for his leading role in crushing Al-Qaeda terrorists while Prince Mohammed bin Salman as defense minister proved his statesmanship during Decisive Storm.

King Salman has stated that Saudi Arabia would not accept any threat from foreign forces. He voiced the Kingdom’s firm support to the legitimate Yemeni government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi against the Houthi rebels. The Saudi-led coalition destroyed the Houthi’s military capabilities and their arms depots, preventing the militia’s threat to the Kingdom’s security.

The 11-member coalition was instrumental in preventing Iran’s expansionist ambitions in the region. The coalition launched Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen to provide relief to Yemenis affected by the Houthi atrocities. King Salman ordered relief supplies worth $274 million for the Yemenis.

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