UAE leaders congratulate Saudi prince on his new roles
Rulers join Gulf heads of state except Qatar in wishing him well
ABU DHABI // The UAE leadership and heads of countries across the region yesterday welcomed the appointment of Mohammed bin Salman as Saudi crown prince. Prince Mohammed, who is in his early thirties, has also been appointed the kingdom’s deputy prime minister and will keep the post of defence minister.
The President, Sheikh Khalifa, wished Prince Mohammed “success in performing his duties, supporting the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and in the continuation of development the country”. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated the Saudi prince on his appointment.
“We congratulate today Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his new position as crown prince and deputy prime minister,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, tweeted: “I congratulate Prince Mohammed bin Salman on winning the confidence of King Salman for the post of crown prince, wishing him all success.
“UAE will remain a brother, friend and partner to KSA in addressing region’s challenges and strengthening security and stability towards the future.”
Elsewhere in the GCC, Sultan Qaboos of Oman sent his congratulations from Muscat, and commended King Salman for promoting his son to the position.
Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Sabah also sent a message to Prince Mohammed, congratulating him on his new positions and wishing the Saudi people prosperity.
A former official in the Kuwaiti ministry of interior said that the choice of the young prince as the future Saudi king was a sign of the country investing in its growing youth population.
Sixty per cent of the Saudi population is under the age of 25. Prince Mohammed, who has placed curbs on the religious police and worked to increase access to entertainment in the kingdom, is popular with many young Saudis who want to see change in the conservative country. In another appointment made by King Salman yesterday, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud was promoted to the position of minister of the interior.
The prince, who is relatively unknown to most outside Saudi Arabia, is also in his thirties.
Bahrain’s King Hamad also congratulated the new Saudi crown prince on his promotion.
In a phone call with Prince Mohammed, King Hamad expressed full confidence in his leadership.
Unsurprisingly, no such message has yet been sent from Sheikh Tamim, emir of Qatar, as the diplomatic rift between the two countries continues.
Other Arab leaders did send their congratulations, however.
Lebanese prime minister Saad Al Hariri tweeted: “I contacted Prince Mohammed bin Salman and congratulated him for his new appointment and wished him all the best.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah, meanwhile, congratulated Prince Mohammed by telephone.