The irresistible rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
2008:
Aged 23, Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, joins Saudi Arabia’s cabinet
January 2015:
MBS becomes Saudi Arabia’s defence minister
April 2015:
He becomes deputy crown prince, and is the driving force behind Saudi’s decision to intervene in neighbouring Yemen’s civil war against the Houthi rebels
June 2017:
MBS seizes power in a palace coup
June 2017:
The prince breaks ties with Qatar over its alleged support of terrorism
Sept 26 2017:
Royal court announces women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to drive from June 2018
Oct 24 2017:
MBS announces Vision 2030, his plan to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil as well as liberalise the conservative kingdom
Nov 4 2017:
Saad Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister, resigns on television during a visit to Riyadh. Mr Hariri, who is supported by the House of Saud, is then understood to have been held against his will and unable to return to Beirut for a fortnight
Nov 4 2017:
Arrest of dozens of members of the royal family, businessmen and ministers in an “anticorruption sweep” which consolidates his power.