Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
سلمان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود
Crown Prince
First Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Defence
Prince Salman at the Pentagon (April 2012)
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
Tenure18 June 2012 – present
PredecessorNayef bin Abdulaziz
MonarchKing Abdullah
Minister of Defence
Tenure5 November 2011 – present
PredecessorSultan bin Abdulaziz
MonarchKing Abdullah
Governor of Riyadh Province
Tenure25 February 1963 – 5 November 2011
Monarch
PredecessorBadr bin Saud bin Abdulaziz
SuccessorSattam bin Abdulaziz
Born (1935-12-31) 31 December 1935 (age 88)
Saudi Arabia
Names
Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud
HouseHouse of Saud
FatherKing Abdulaziz
MotherHassa bint Ahmad al Sudairi
ReligionIslam

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Arabic: سلمان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود}}, Salmān bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ʾĀl Saʿūd) (born 1935) is the Crown Prince and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, as well as a senior member of the House of Saud.

Early life and education

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Prince Salman was born on 31 December 1935. He is reported to be the 25th son of King Abdulaziz.[1][2] His mother is Hassa al Sudairi. Therefore, Salman bin Abdulaziz is a member of the Sudairi Seven.

Salman bin Abdulaziz received his early education in the Princes' School in Riyadh which was established by King Abdulaziz to provide education to his children.[3] He studied religion and modern science.[4]

Early experience

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Prince Salman's governmental experience dates back to the 1950s. King Abdulaziz appointed Prince Salman as his representative and the Emir or Mayor of Riyadh on 17 March 1954, when Salman bin Abdulaziz was just nineteen years old.[4][1] Later, he was appointed by King Saud as Mayor of Riyadh at the rank of minister on 19 April 1955.[1][4] He resigned from his post on 25 December 1960.[3]

Governor of Riyadh

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Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed to the governorship of Riyadh Province on 4 February 1963.[3] His tenure lasted for forty-eight years from 1963 to 2011.[4] As governor, he contributed to the development of Riyadh from a mid-sized town into a major urban metropolis. He has attracted tourism, capital projects, and foreign investment inside his country. He favors geopolitical and economic relationships with the West.

He was advised by young well-qualified technocrats recruited from King Saud University during his governorship.[5] In January 2011, he ordered action against Riyadh beggars "who try to take advantage of the generosity of people". All foreign beggars were deported and Saudi beggars were placed in a rehabilitation program by the Ministry of Social Affairs.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). On the same day, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz was named as the Governor of Riyadh Province. Since his appointment in November 2011, Prince Salman visited both the US and the United Kingdom where he met with U.S. President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Profile: New Saudi Defense Minister Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz". Asharq Alawsat. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  2. ^ Andelman, David A. (30 May 2012). "Letter From Arabia III: Paranoia, or We're Surrounded!". World Policy Blog. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "His royal highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz". Ministry of Interior. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "Ministers with portfolio". Saudi Embassy, Washington DC. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  5. ^ Kechichian, Joseph A. Succession in Saudi Arabia. New York: Palgrave, 2001. Print.
  6. ^ "Saudi Prince dead, Salman likely successor". Trade Arabia. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.