Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman named Prime Minister

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued a royal decree on Tuesday, appointing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the kingdom’s new Prime Minister.

The appointment comes as part of a cabinet reshuffle.

Royal Order: His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince,shall be the Prime Minister; as an exception to the provision of Article (56)of the Basic Law of Governance, and the relevant provisions contained in the Law of the Cabinet.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/qGSv6BS8FV

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) September 27, 2022

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who has been serving as the vice minister of defense was appointed as the new defense minister. Yousef bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Benyan was named education minister, taking over the reins from Dr. Hamad bin Mohammad Al Al-Sheikh.

The new defense and education ministers took their oaths in front of King Salman, a video posted by Saudi Press Agency on Twitter showed.

Defense Minister and Education Minister Take Oath Before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/FYhfqOQCPl

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) September 27, 2022

Interior minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has also retained his position. Meanwhile, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz will remain as the minister of energy. Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz and Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah bin Faisal will retain their posts as minister of state and minister of foreign affairs respectively.

Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Jadaan will also continue as finance minister.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council congratulated Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman on his appointment as prime minister.

نبارك لأخي الأمير محمد بن سلمان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود ولي عهد السعودية بمناسبة تعيينه رئيساً لمجلس الوزراء، ودعواتنا لسموه بالتوفيق والسداد، وللمملكة العربية السعودية الشقيقة بمزيد من التقدم في ظل القيادة الرشيدة لخادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك سلمان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود. pic.twitter.com/wTR77FYSnd

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) September 27, 2022